A phase III,observer-blind,randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy,safety, and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine in healthy adults aged 18–59 years: An interim analysis in Indonesia

BackgroundThe WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11th, 2020. This serious outbreak and the precipitously increasing numbers of deaths worldwide necessitated the urgent need to develop an effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine. The development of COVID-19 vaccines has moved quickly. In this study, we assessed the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of an inactivated (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and its lot-to-lot consistency. A total of 1620 healthy adults aged 18–59 years were randomly assigned to receive 2 injections of the trial vaccine or placebo on a day 0 and 14 schedule. This article was based on an interim report completed within 3 months following the last dose of study vaccine. The interim analysis includes safety and immunogenicity data for 540 participants in the immunogenicity subset and an efficacy analysis of the 1620 subjects. For the safety evaluation, solicited and unsolicited adverse events were collected after the first and second vaccination within 14 and 28 days, respectively. Blood samples were collected for an antibody assay before and 14 days following the second dose.ResultsMost of the adverse reactions were in the solicited category and were mild in severity. Pain at the injection site was the most frequently reported symptom. Antibody IgG titer determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 97.48% for the seroconversion rate. Using a neutralization assay, the seroconversion rate was 87.15%. The efficacy in preventing symptomatic confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurring at least 14 days after the second dose of vaccine using an incidence rate was 65.30%.ConclusionsFrom the 3-month interim analysis, the vaccine exhibited a 65.30% efficacy at preventing COVID-19 illness with favorable safety and immunogenicity profiles.     

ANCA相关性肾小球肾炎合并IgG4相关性肾小管间质性肾炎一例

抗中性粒细胞胞质抗体（ANCA）相关性血管炎常累及肺肾等器官,该文报道1例ANCA相关性肾小球肾炎（ANCA-GN）合并IgG4相关性肾小管间质性肾炎（IgG4-TIN）病例,患者为51岁男性,以发热伴咳嗽起病,伴尿量减少,蛋白尿、血尿不明显,其血清学髓过氧化物酶滴度明显升高、核周型ANCA阳性,IgG4轻度升高（肾上腺皮质激素使用后）,肾脏病理学检查示有毛细血管袢断裂、皱缩伴新月体形成,肾间质可见较多淋巴细胞、浆细胞浸润伴轻度纤维化,免疫组织化学染色浆细胞显示以IgG⁺及IgG4⁺浆细胞为主,存在ANCA-GN合并IgG4-TIN可能,予抗感染、抗血管炎及血浆置换后患者病情好转出院。该例的诊治提示,对于不典型ANCA-GN患者如无明显血尿、蛋白尿、尿量减少等表现,需检测血清IgG4,病理上需注意观察有无IgG4-TIN特征性改变;对于临床上高度可疑的IgG4-TIN患者,还需同时排查IgG4所致的其他脏器改变,基线血清IgG4水平是IgG4相关性疾病活动、预测复发的标志物。     

Phase 0 Study of Vandetanib-Eluting Radiopaque Embolics as a Preoperative Embolization Treatment in Patients with Resectable Liver Malignancies

PurposeTo assess the safety and tolerability of a vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolic (BTG-002814) for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with resectable liver malignancies.Materials and MethodsThe VEROnA clinical trial was a first-in-human, phase 0, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and had resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Child-Pugh A) or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients received 1 mL of BTG-002814 transarterially (containing 100 mg of vandetanib) 7–21 days prior to surgery. The primary objectives were to establish the safety and tolerability of BTG-002814 and determine the concentrations of vandetanib and the N-desmethyl vandetanib metabolite in the plasma and resected liver after treatment. Biomarker studies included circulating proangiogenic factors, perfusion computed tomography, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsEight patients were enrolled: 2 with HCC and 6 with mCRC. There was 1 grade 3 adverse event (AE) before surgery and 18 after surgery; 6 AEs were deemed to be related to BTG-002814. Surgical resection was not delayed. Vandetanib was present in the plasma of all patients 12 days after treatment, with a mean maximum concentration of 24.3 ng/mL (standard deviation ± 13.94 ng/mL), and in resected liver tissue up to 32 days after treatment (441–404,000 ng/g). The median percentage of tumor necrosis was 92.5% (range, 5%–100%). There were no significant changes in perfusion imaging parameters after TACE.ConclusionsBTG-002814 has an acceptable safety profile in patients before surgery. The presence of vandetanib in the tumor specimens up to 32 days after treatment suggests sustained anticancer activity, while the low vandetanib levels in the plasma suggest minimal release into the systemic circulation. Further evaluation of this TACE combination is warranted in dose-finding and efficacy studies.     

Liberalising trade in health services: constraints and prospects for South Asian countries

This paper attempts to examine the prospects and challenges associated with liberalising trade in health services in five South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Country‐specific secondary information, a brief literature review of empirical studies and debriefing sessions with key stakeholders are employed to explore the issues related to liberalising health services trade. The health sectors in India, Nepal and Pakistan are scheduled under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) classification, whereas those in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not. In Bangladesh, there is opportunity for investment in joint venture hospitals under Mode 3. Nonetheless, India is the largest trader in health services under all four modes. In Sri Lanka, cross‐border trade in healthcare services is found to be insignificant. Moreover, expertise in eye treatment in Nepal could also attract foreign investment in medical services under Mode 3. In contrast, Pakistan exhibits no potential under Mode 4, because of a lack of healthcare professionals. In this view, the prospects of trade in health services within the South Asian region under the four GATS modes are constrained by infrastructural, regulatory, perception‐related, logistical and cultural problems. Considering the level of development and commercial opportunities, regional integration in the health sector could be explored in such areas as telemedicine, medical tourism, cross‐border investment and capacity building of health personnel. These developments call for stronger and pro‐active government‐to‐government collaboration in the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region in a transparent and accountable manner. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

IgE anti Hepatitis B virus surface antigen antibodies detected in serum from inner city asthmatic and non asthmatic children

Viral Hepatitis type B (HBV) is a public health concern, but has not been linked to asthma. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G is involved in HBV immune responses; less is known about IgE antibodies (Abs) against HBV in asthma. Given the importance of HBV, we sought to determine whether HBV vaccine contributes to asthma in children, by stimulating specific IgE production. Total IgE, IgE- or IgG-anti-HBVs Abs were studied in vaccinated pediatric asthmatics and non asthmatics. We found: (1) total IgE was higher in asthmatics; (2) total IgE did not correlate with IgE anti-HBVs; (3) IgE anti-HBVs did correlate with IgG-anti-HBVs in all subjects; (4)IgE- and IgG-HBVs Abs were similar in both groups; (5) IgE- or IgG anti-HBVs Abs did not correlate with age. Our findings indicate that HBV vaccination induces IgE responses in asthmatics and non asthmatics.     

Case of pemphigus with immunoglobulin G and A antibodies,binding to both the intercellular spaces and basement membrane zone

We report a case involving a 62‐year‐old woman with in vivo‐bound immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies in both the intercellular space (ICS) and basement membrane zone (BMZ). Her clinical and histopathological features were identical with those of pemphigus vulgaris, while the immunopathological findings suggested IgG/IgA pemphigus. Direct immunofluorescence (IF) showed in vivo‐bound IgG and IgA antibodies in the ICS and BMZ, whereas indirect IF showed circulating IgG but not IgA antibodies in the ICS and BMZ. The anti‐ICS IgG bound to desmoglein‐3, while the anti‐BMZ antibodies bound to the epidermal side of 1 mol/L NaCl‐split skin. To the best of our knowledge, only two similar cases have been reported so far. Furthermore, we also examined IgG subclass distribution of the in vivo‐bound and circulating anti‐ICS and BMZ antibodies, and found that IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 bound to ICS of the lesional skins, while IgG1 and IgG3 bound to the BMZ. The circulating anti‐ICS antibodies belonged to IgG1 and IgG4, while the circulating anti‐BMZ antibodies to IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4. We report a case involving a 62‐year‐old woman with in vivo‐bound immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies in both the intercellular space (ICS) and basement membrane zone (BMZ). Her clinical and histopathological features were identical with those of pemphigus vulgaris, while the immunopathological findings suggested IgG/IgA pemphigus. Direct immunofluorescence (IF) showed in vivo‐bound IgG and IgA antibodies in the ICS and BMZ, whereas indirect IF showed circulating IgG but not IgA antibodies in the ICS and BMZ. The anti‐ICS IgG bound to desmoglein‐3, while the anti‐BMZ antibodies bound to the epidermal side of 1 mol/L NaCl‐split skin. To the best of our knowledge, only two similar cases have been reported so far. Furthermore, we also examined IgG subclass distribution of the in vivo‐bound and circulating anti‐ICS and BMZ antibodies, and found that IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 bound to ICS of the lesional skins, while IgG1 and IgG3 bound to the BMZ. The circulating anti‐ICS antibodies belonged to IgG1 and IgG4, while the circulating anti‐BMZ antibodies to IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4.     

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease in the urinary bladder

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease is a fibroinflammatory condition of unclear etiology that can present with inflammatory changes and enlargement of a wide variety of organs, most commonly in the gastrointestinal tract. A diagnosis requires an elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 concentration and a tissue biopsy showing a dense plasma cell infiltrate with an increased percentage of immunoglobulin G4+ plasma cells. This disease infrequently presents in the genitourinary tract, and as such might be unfamiliar to and potentially overlooked by urologists. Here we present the third reported case of immunoglobulin G4‐related disease manifesting as a mass in the urinary bladder.     

IgG4相关性疾病泌尿系统损害的临床特点分析

目的 总结和分析IgG4相关性疾病(IgG4-RD)泌尿系统损害的临床特点.方法 收集24例IgG4相关性疾病泌尿系统损害患者的临床资料,回顾性分析患者肾脏受累、治疗前后Scr、Hb、炎性反应指标和IgG4亚类水平的变化情况.结果 2010年8月至2014年5月经北京协和医学院肾内科确诊的IgG4相关性疾病泌尿系统损害病例24例,平均受累器官数目(4.38±1.55)个.治疗前血清IgG4[M(范围)]为12 750(1 460～ 59 400) mg/L,均伴炎性反应指标明显升高.20例患者有检测尿蛋白量,其中19例尿蛋白量升高,6例伴肾病综合征.21例患者Scr升高,均值为(410.48±352.17) μmol/L,其中3例需接受透析治疗.14例患者伴贫血,8例伴单侧或双侧肾脏体积缩小.21例Scr升高的患者中,11例患者肾功能不全因肾后性梗阻所致,3例病理证实为肾小管间质肾炎.与治疗前相比,24例患者糖皮质激素联合或不联合免疫抑制剂治疗1周后Scr明显下降(P＜0.05),治疗1个月后Scr下降更为明显(P＜0.01),3例透析患者均脱离透析.血沉于治疗1个月后亦明显下降(P＜0.01).IgG4亚类水平在治疗1个月时无显著下降(P＞0.05),治疗2个月时明显下降(P＜0.01).结论 IgG4相关疾病合并肾功能不全并不少见,对中至大量糖皮质激素治疗反应良好,治疗后Scr下降早于血沉和IgG4亚类.