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Zhaojian W, Meizhu J, Jun H, Shanshan G, Jiping H, Zhigang Z, Ying G, Cao L. Trends and off-label utilization of antipsychotics in children and adolescents from 2016 to 2021 in China: a real-world study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:77. [PMID: 38907356 PMCID: PMC11193198 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00766-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global antipsychotic usage, including off-label prescriptions, has increased in recent decades. However, trends in China, particularly for children and adolescents, remain unclear. This study explored these trends from 2016 to 2021 and identified factors associated with off-label prescriptions. METHODS In this retrospective study, we analyzed on-label and off-label prescriptions based on drug information approved by the China National Medical Products Administration. To identify factors associated with off-label prescriptions, we conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Our study included 48,258 antipsychotic prescriptions, 52.4% (25,295) of which were prescriptions for males. Of these, 61.7% (29,813) were off-label. Over time, the number of antipsychotics and the percentage of off-label prescriptions for children and adolescents overall increased from 2016 to 2021. The use of atypical antipsychotics increased, whereas that of typical antipsychotics decreased. For off-label usage, all of the factors in our study were associated with off-label usage, including age, sex, year, region, department, reimbursement, antipsychotic type, drug expense, number of polypharmacy and diagnoses. Additionally, tiapride (15.8%) and aripiprazole (18.6%) were the most common typical and atypical antipsychotics, respectively. For pediatric diseases, common diagnoses included mood or affective disorders (31.7%) and behavioral and emotional disorders, with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (29.1%). Furthermore, a depressive state was the most common diagnosis for which antipsychotic polypharmacy was used for treatment. CONCLUSION In this retrospective study, off-label antipsychotic prescriptions were common, with trends generally increasing among children and adolescents from 2016 to 2021. However, there is a lack of evidence supporting off-label usage, thus emphasizing the need for studies on the efficacy and safety of these treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zhaojian
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Meizhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 Nan Si Huan Xi Lu, Fengtai District, 100050, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Jun
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guo Shanshan
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 Nan Si Huan Xi Lu, Fengtai District, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Huo Jiping
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 Nan Si Huan Xi Lu, Fengtai District, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Zhigang
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 Nan Si Huan Xi Lu, Fengtai District, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Gong Ying
- Department of Pharmacy, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6, Phase 1, Fangxingyuan, Fangzhuang, Fengtai District, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 119 Nan Si Huan Xi Lu, Fengtai District, 100050, Beijing, China.
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Gallinella F, Trotta F, Fortinguerra F. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on prescription of psychotropic medications in the Italian paediatric population during 2020. Ital J Pediatr 2024; 50:102. [PMID: 38764095 PMCID: PMC11103882 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01670-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a global perception that psychotropic utilization in children and adolescents is increasing, especially with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Available literature data on paediatric psychotropic medication prescriptions in Italy are limited to one or few regions and not updated. The aim of this study was to provide updated data on psychotropic prescriptions referred to the whole Italian paediatric population, as overall and by subgroups of medications and to evaluate if the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 had an impact on prescription rates. METHODS A descriptive study on psychotropic drug utilization in children and adolescents (< 18 years) resident in all Italian regions during 2020 was performed. Patients registered in the Pharmaceutical Prescriptions database with at least one prescription/dispensing of a psychotropic medication (antipsychotics-N05A), (antidepressants-N06A) and (psychostimulants-N06BA) during the study period were considered. The indicators used were the prescription rate (number of prescriptions per 1000 children) and prevalence of use (proportion of the paediatric population with at least one prescription in the relevant year). RESULTS During the 2020 the prevalence of psychotropic drug use in the paediatric population was 0.3%, increased of 7.8% if compared to 2019. The same trend was observed for the prescription rate, which recorded an average of 28.2 per 1000 children with an increase of 11.6% if compared to previous year, representing the 0.6% of the overall drug use in this age group. The data showed a growing trend prescription by age, reaching the peak in adolescents aged 12-17 years old, with a prescription rate of 65 per 1000 children and a prevalence of 0.71%. Considering the subgroups of psychotropic medications, the highest prevalence of use was found for antipsychotic drugs, received by the 0.19% of the paediatric population during 2020. CONCLUSIONS Psychotropic drug utilization in children and adolescents has grown during 2020 in Italy and worldwide, raising alarms from health care clinicians and patient advocates about the increase of burden of mental diseases in paediatric population during the COVID-19 pandemic. A more systematic monitoring of the use of psychotropic medications should be implemented in all countries for collecting relevant information about children and adolescents taking psychotropic drugs, in order to address the present and the future of the mental health of the paediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesco Trotta
- Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), Via del Tritone, 181, Rome, 00187, Italy
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Tiger M, Castelpietra G, Wesselhoeft R, Lundberg J, Reutfors J. Utilization of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:175. [PMID: 38575574 PMCID: PMC10995182 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02894-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been concerns over the mental health impact of COVID-19. This is a review of the utilization of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared on March the 11th 2020. A number of reports so far have been based on large prescription databases for administrative use at the national or regional level, but mainly in high-income countries. We found studies reporting increased prescription rates of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics during March 2020, which has been interpreted as hoarding of such medications. In the following months, most studies of antidepressant prescription rates did not display a clear pattern of change compared with prepandemic trends. In later phases of the pandemic small increases in utilization of antidepressants, with higher than predicted prescription rates, have been the most consistent finding, especially in youth. In most high-income countries, there were increasing trends in utilization of antidepressants also before 2020, which needs to be considered when estimating utilization during the pandemic, whereas for anxiolytics and hypnotics, the prepandemic patterns of prescriptions were more varying. Overall, after March 2020 we could not find any distinct changes in the utilization of anxiolytics and hypnotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most studies did not contain information about the prevalence of indicated psychiatric disorders in the studied populations. More studies are needed about the long-term effects of COVID-19, particularly regarding utilization of antidepressants. Research relating antidepressant utilization with the prevalence of major depression and anxiety disorders would promote a better understanding of how well antidepressant prescription rates reflect the needs of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Tiger
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Giulio Castelpietra
- Outpatient and Inpatient Care Service, Central Health Directorate, Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trieste, Italy
- Department Adult 2, Centre Neuchâteloise de Psychiatrie, Marin-Epagnier, Préfargier, Switzerland
| | - Rikke Wesselhoeft
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundberg
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Reutfors
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Antoniou T, Pajer K, Gardner W, Penner M, Lunsky Y, McCormack D, Tadrous M, Mamdani M, Gozdyra P, Juurlink DN, Gomes T. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on prescription stimulant use among children and youth: a population-based study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:10.1007/s00787-023-02346-x. [PMID: 38180538 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02346-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 associated public health measures and school closures exacerbated symptoms in some children and youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Less well understood is how the pandemic influenced patterns of prescription stimulant use. We conducted a population-based study of stimulant dispensing to children and youth ≤ 24 years old between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2022. We used structural break analyses to identify the pandemic month(s) when changes in the dispensing of stimulants occurred. We used interrupted time series models to quantify changes in dispensing following the structural break and compare observed and expected stimulant use. Our main outcome was the change in the monthly rate of stimulant use per 100,000 children and youth. Following an initial immediate decline of 60.1 individuals per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 99.0 to - 21.2), the monthly rate of stimulant dispensing increased by 11.8 individuals per 100,000 (95% CI 10.0-13.6), with the greatest increases in trend observed among females, individuals in the highest income neighbourhoods, and those aged 20 to 24. Observed rates were between 3.9% (95% CI 1.7-6.2%) and 36.9% (95% CI 34.3-39.5%) higher than predicted among females from June 2020 onward and between 7.1% (95% CI 4.2-10.0%) and 50.7% (95% CI 47.0-54.4%) higher than expected among individuals aged 20-24 from May 2020 onward. Additional research is needed to ascertain the appropriateness of stimulant use and to develop strategies supporting children and youth with ADHD during future periods of long-term stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Antoniou
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Kathleen Pajer
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - William Gardner
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Melanie Penner
- Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yona Lunsky
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Mina Tadrous
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad Mamdani
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Centre for Healthcare Analytics Research & Training, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - David N Juurlink
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tara Gomes
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Tou SI, Lin CL, Huang CY, Yen HR. Trends in Coprescription Among Taiwanese Children from 2002 to 2012. J Multidiscip Healthc 2023; 16:4307-4320. [PMID: 38169977 PMCID: PMC10759922 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s416892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Coprescription means that patients use different prescription medications at the same time, which can lead to polypharmacy and subsequent complications. In Taiwan, prescriptions can be ordered by Western physicians, traditional Chinese physicians and dentists. It is essential to disclose the trends in coprescription to prevent possible polypharmacy among children. Patients and Methods We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 in Taiwan. Children <18 years old who had coprescription from 2002 to 2012 are included. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval are estimated by a logistic regression model to evaluate the correlation between basic characteristics and coprescription. Results A total of 44,801 children are included in the analysis. The numbers of children with coprescription and the numbers of coprescriptions ordered for children increased with calendar years. Children aged 3-5 year and 6-8 years constituted the majority of coprescriptions, while those aged <3 years constituted the minority of coprescriptions. Compared to those in the Western medication-alone group, aged 3-5 years and children who lived in central and southern Taiwan are more likely to have coprescription. Conclusion Coprescription among Taiwanese children is not uncommon. Healthcare providers, policymakers and parents should be aware of the real coprescription situation among the children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sio-Ian Tou
- Department of Pediatrics, Chung Kang Branch, Cheng-Ching General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yu Huang
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- International Master Program in Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Antoniou T, Pajer K, Gardner W, Penner M, Lunsky Y, Tadrous M, Mamdani M, Gozdyra P, Juurlink DN, Gomes T. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant and antipsychotic use among children and adolescents: a population-based study. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1282845. [PMID: 38146536 PMCID: PMC10749316 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1282845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in the prevalence of depression, anxiety and behavioural problems among children and youth. Less well understood is the influence of the pandemic on antidepressant and antipsychotic use among children. This is important, as it is possible that antidepressants and antipsychotics were used as a "stop-gap" measure to treat mental health symptoms when in-person access to outpatient care and school-based supportive services was disrupted. Furthermore, antipsychotics and antidepressants have been associated with harm in children and youth. We examined trends in dispensing of these medications two years following the pandemic among children 18 years of age and under in Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted a population-based time-series study of antidepressant and antipsychotic medication dispensing to children and adolescents ≤18 years old between September 1, 2014, and March 31, 2022. We measured monthly population-adjusted rates of antidepressant and antipsychotics obtained from the IQVIA Geographic Prescription Monitor (GPM) database. We used structural break analyses to identify the pandemic month(s) when changes in the dispensing of antidepressants and antipsychotics occurred. We used interrupted time series models to quantify changes in dispensing following the structural break and compare observed and expected use of these drugs. Results Overall, we found higher-than-expected dispensing of antidepressants and antipsychotics in children and youth. Specifically, we observed an immediate step decrease in antidepressant dispensing associated with a structural break in April 2020 (-55.8 units per 1,000 individuals; 95% confidence intervals [CI] CI: -117.4 to 5.8), followed by an increased monthly trend in the rate of antidepressant dispensing of 13.0 units per 1,000 individuals (95% CI: 10.2-15.9). Antidepressant dispensing was consistently greater than predicted from September 2020 onward. Antipsychotic dispensing increased immediately following a June 2020 structural break (26.4 units per 1,000 individuals; 95% CI: 15.8-36.9) and did not change appreciably thereafter. Antipsychotic dispensing was higher than predicted at all time points from June 2020 onward. Conclusion We found higher-than-expected dispensing of antidepressants and antipsychotics in children and youth. These increases were sustained through nearly two years of observation and are especially concerning in light of the potential for harm with the long-term use of antipsychotics in children. Further research is required to understand the clinical implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Antoniou
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kathleen Pajer
- Mental Health Program, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - William Gardner
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Melanie Penner
- Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Yona Lunsky
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mina Tadrous
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad Mamdani
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Centre for Healthcare Analytics Research & Training, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - David N. Juurlink
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tara Gomes
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Braillon A, Rogers WA. Increased prescribing of psychotropic medication for children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: no cause for alarm. Med J Aust 2023; 219:285. [PMID: 37552465 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
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