The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatitis B virus vaccination and transmission among men who have sex with men: A mathematical modelling study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been considerably lower than before the pandemic. Moreover, less frequent HBV testing and a reduction in numbers of sex partners have been reported. We assessed the impact of these COVID-19-related changes on HBV transmission among MSM in the Netherlands.MethodsWe estimated the changes in sexual activity, HBV testing, and HBV vaccination among MSM during the pandemic from Dutch data. We used a deterministic compartmental model and investigated scenarios with small or large declines in sexual activity, testing, and vaccination for the current phase of the pandemic (without available data). We examined the increase in HBV vaccinations needed to prevent further increase in HBV incidence.ResultsWith a decrease in numbers of sex partners of 15–25% during the first lockdown and 5% during the second lockdown, we found a decline of 6.6% in HBV incidence in 2020, despite a >70% reduction in HBV testing and vaccination during the first lockdown. With numbers of sex partners rebounding close to pre-pandemic level in 2021, and a reduction of 15% in testing and 30% in vaccination in 2021, we found an increase of 1.4% in incidence in 2021 and 3.1% in 2026. With these changes, an increase of ≥60% in HBV vaccinations in 2022 would be needed to bring the HBV incidence in 2023 back to the level that it would have had if the COVID-19-related changes had not occurred.ConclusionsDespite reductions in sexual activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the decrease in HBV vaccinations may result in a small increase in HBV incidence after 2021, which may persist for years. It is important to restore the vaccination level and limit further increase in HBV transmission among MSM.     

低氧刺激鼻息肉黏膜上皮细胞炎性因子变化的初探

目的研究低氧刺激慢性鼻窦炎伴鼻息肉(CRSwNP)与正常鼻黏膜上皮细胞炎性因子的变化与异同,探讨其在CRSwNP发病机制中的作用。方法选择2015年6月至2018年1月在吉林大学中日联谊医院就诊的68例CRSwNP患者,其中男性36例,女性32例,年龄(45.2±12.5)岁(xˉ±s,下同),患者的鼻息肉黏膜纳入慢性鼻窦炎鼻息肉组(CRS-NP组),下鼻甲黏膜纳入慢性鼻窦炎下鼻甲组(CRS-IT组),并根据组织病理学结果进一步分成嗜酸粒细胞浸润及非浸润两种类型,即嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉组(Eos-NP组,n=34)、非嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉组(Non-Eos-NP组,n=34)、嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉患者的下鼻甲组(Eos-IT组,n=20)和非嗜酸粒细胞浸润性鼻息肉患者的下鼻甲组(Non-Eos-IT组,n=20);同期25例鼻窦囊肿或鼻中隔偏曲患者的下鼻甲黏膜作为对照组(n=25),其中男性14例,女性11例,年龄(42.8±10.2)岁。免疫组织化学染色分析各组黏膜上皮组织中白细胞介素(IL)17A、干扰素γ(IFN-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)与乏氧诱导因子(hypoxia-inducible factor 1α,HIF-1α)的表达情况。酶联免疫吸附试验检测低氧刺激0、24和48 h后各组原代鼻黏膜上皮细胞分泌IL-17A、IFN-γ和TNF-α的差异;免疫荧光、固态光源高内涵与免疫印记实验检测原代鼻黏膜上皮细胞HIF-1α的表达情况。应用SPSS 17.0软件对数据进行统计学分析,采用双向方差分析作为主要统计学方法。结果免疫组织化学染色结果显示,IL-17A和TNF-α在对照组中表达最高(光密度值分别为0.37±0.03、0.53±0.02),IFN-γ和HIF-1α在Eos-IT组中表达最高(光密度值分别为0.47±0.03、0.39±0.02)。未接受低氧刺激时,IL-17A与TNF-α在对照组中水平较低;低氧刺激48 h后,对照组的IL-17A与TNF-α分泌量明显高于其他各组。未接受低氧刺激时,Eos-NP组分泌的IFN-γ明显高于对照组[(13.7±1.3)pg/ml比(11.1±1.6)pg/ml,P<0.05];低氧刺激48 h后,IFN-γ在对照组和Eos-NP组中的分泌量没有显著区别。对照组与CRS-IT组表达的HIF-1α随低氧时间延长而增加,Eos-NP组与Non-Eos-NP组表达的HIF-1α随低氧时间延长而减少。对照组与CRS-IT组HIF-1α主要表达于鼻黏膜上皮细胞的细胞质内,CRS-NP组HIF-1α主要表达于鼻黏膜上皮细胞的细胞核内。结论低氧刺激下,CRSwNP患者的鼻息肉、下鼻甲与正常鼻黏膜上皮细胞中IL-17A、TNF-α、IFN-γ的分泌以及HIF-1α的表达水平存在差异,且呈现不同的亚细胞定位,提示其可能参与了CRSwNP发病相关基因的转录与调控。     

端粒长度与认知障碍及其中药治疗的研究现况

认知障碍是指记忆、语言、理解和判断等一个或多个方面的功能障碍,包括轻度认知障碍和各种类型的痴呆症。痴呆症是认知障碍最严重的表现,是一种导致患者日常生活、社会交往和工作能力发生显著变化的综合征。阿尔茨海默病(AD)是最常见的痴呆症类型,其次是血管性痴呆(VD)和其他神经退行性痴呆[1]。已知年龄与认知功能的退化密切相关。     

Adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medications and associations with clinical and economic outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic literature review

We designed a systematic literature review to identify available evidence on adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medication in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Electronic screening and congress searches identified real-world noninterventional studies (published between 2010 and October 2020) reporting estimates of adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medication in adults with T2D, and associations with glycaemic control, microvascular and/or macrovascular complications, hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Ninety-two relevant studies were identified, the majority of which were retrospective and reported US data. The proportions of patients considered adherent (median [range] 51.2% [9.4%-84.3%]) or persistent (median [range] 47.7% [16.9%-94.0%]) varied widely across studies. Multiple studies reported an association between greater adherence/persistence and greater reductions in glycated haemoglobin levels. Better adherence/persistence was associated with fewer microvascular and/or macrovascular outcomes, although there was little consistency across studies in terms of which outcomes were improved. More adherent and more persistent patients were typically less likely to be hospitalized or to have emergency department visits/admissions and spent fewer days in hospital annually than less adherent/persistent patients. Greater adherence and persistence were generally associated with lower hospitalization costs, higher pharmacy costs and lower or budget-neutral total healthcare costs compared with lower adherence/persistence. In conclusion, better adherence and persistence in people with T2D is associated with lower rates of microvascular and/or macrovascular outcomes and inpatient hospitalization, and lower or budget-neutral total healthcare expenditure. Education and treatment strategies to address suboptimal adherence and persistence are needed to improve clinical and economic outcomes.     

Carboxylesterase-2 plays a critical role in dabigatran etexilate active metabolite formation

Dabigatran etexilate (DABE), an oral anticoagulant prodrug, is nearly completely metabolized to the dabigatran (DAB) active metabolite by carboxylesterase-1 (CES1) and carboxylesterase-2 (CES2). The high interpatient variation in DAB plasma concentrations, coupled with its low therapeutic index, emphasizes the need to understand how CES1 and CES2 impact active metabolite formation. Previous work focused on CES1 enzyme activity but the contributions of CES2 remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine how CES2 activity influences DAB active metabolite formation. We compared the efficiency of DAB formation from DABE when exposed sequentially to human intestinal and then human hepatic microsomes (mimicking the normal metabolic sequence) with the reverse metabolic sequence in which DABE is exposed to hepatic and then intestinal microsomes. The poor efficiency of DAB formation with reverse sequential hydrolysis indicates that CES2 activity is crucial for active metabolite formation. Thus, the decrease in DAB formation with normal sequential hydrolysis was more sensitive to CES2 inhibition by verapamil (CES2 IC50 = 3.4 μM) than CES1 inhibition by diltiazem (CES2 IC50 = 9.1 μM). These results show CES2 activity plays a crucial role in DAB formation and that variability in its activity is an important determinant of therapeutic response.     

Methodological advances in the design of peptide-based vaccines

The tremendous advances in genomics, recombinant DNA technology, bioengineering and nanotechnology, in conjunction with the development of high-end computations, have been instrumental in the process of rational design of peptide-based vaccines. The use of peptide vaccines was limited owing to their inherent instability when systemically administered; however, advanced formulation techniques have been developed for their systemic delivery, thereby overcoming their degradation, clearance, cellular uptake and off-target effects. With the rise of sophisticated immunological predictors and experimental techniques, several methodological advances have occurred in this field. This review examines contemporary methods to identify and optimize epitopes, engineer their immunogenic properties and develop their safe and efficient delivery into the host.     

Angiotensin (1−7) peptide replacement therapy with plasma transfusion in COVID-19

AimTo determine whether convalescent angiotensin (1?7) peptide replacement therapy with plasma (peptide plasma) transfusion can be beneficial in the treatment of critically ill patients with severe coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.Study designCase series of 9 critically ill patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who met the following criteria: severe pneumonia with rapid progression and continuously high viral load despite antiviral treatment.Peptide plasma: Plasma with angiotensin (1?7) content 8–10 times higher than healthy plasma donors was obtained from suitable donors. Peptide plasma transfusion was applied to 9 patients whose clinical status and/or laboratory profile deteriorated and who needed intensive care for 2 days.ResultsIn our COVID-19 cases, favipiravir, low molecular weight heparin treatment, which is included in the treatment protocol of the ministry of health, was started. Nine patients with oxygen saturation of 93% and below despite nasal oxygen support, whose clinical and/or laboratory deteriorated, were identified. The youngest of the cases was 36 years old, and the oldest patient was 85 years old. 6 of the 9 cases had male gender. 3 cases had been smoking for more than 10 years. 4 cases had at least one chronic disease.In all of our cases, SARS CoV2 lung involvement was bilateral and peptide plasma therapy was administered in cases when oxygen saturation was 93% and below despite nasal oxygen support of 5 liters/minute and above, and intensive care was required. Although it was not reflected in the laboratory parameters in the early period, 8 patients whose saturations improved with treatment were discharged without the need for intensive care. However, a similar response was not obtained in one case. Oxygen requirement increased gradually and, he died in intensive care process. An increase of the platelet count was observed in all cases following the peptide plasma treatment.ConclusionIn this preliminary case series of 9 critically ill patients with COVID-19, administration of plasma containing angiotensin (1?7) was followed by improvement in their clinical status. The limited sample size and study design preclude a definitive statement about the potential effectiveness of this treatment, and these observations require evaluation in clinical trials.