Robust antibody response after a third BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the second among immunocompromised and healthy individuals,a prospective longitudinal cohort study

PurposeAs protection from COVID-19 following two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine showed a time dependent waning, a third (booster) dose was administrated. This study aims to compare the antibody response following the third dose versus the second and to evaluate post-booster seroconversion.MethodsA prospective observational study conducted in Maccabi Healthcare Services. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests, 1,2,3 and 6 months following the second vaccine dose and one month following the third were obtained. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured in a subset of participants. Per individual SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG titer ratios were calculated one month after the booster administration compared to titers one month following the second dose and prior to booster.ResultsAmong 110 participants, 56 (51%) were women. Mean age was 61.7 ± 1.9 years and 66 (60%) were immunocompromised. One month after third dose, IgG titers were induced 7.83 (95 %CI 5.25–11.67) folds and 2.40 (95 %CI 1.90–3.03) folds compared to one month after the second, in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups, respectively. Of the 17 immunocompromised participants who were seronegative after the second dose, 4 (24%) became seropositive following the third. Comparing the titers prior to the third dose, an increase of 50.7 (95 %CI 32.5–79.1) fold in the immunocompromised group and 25.7 (95 %CI 19.1–34.7) fold in and immunocompetent group, was observed.ConclusionA third BNT162b2 vaccine elicited robust humoral response, superior to the response observed following the second, among immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.     

The impact of the updated EORTC/MSG criteria on the classification of hematological patients with suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

ObjectivesOur aim was to evaluate the effect of the updated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Mycoses Study Group 2019 definitions for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) on patient classification and the related all-cause 12-week mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study from our tertiary care centre, we reclassified patients with haematological malignancy who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage between 2014 and 2019 for suspected IPA using the novel EORTC 2019 criteria. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to define the optimal cut-off for positive PCR and galactomannan and present survival analyses and their possible association with these diagnostic criteria through post hoc comparisons with log rank and Cox regression.ResultsFrom 323 episodes of suspected IPA in 282 patients, 73 were reclassified: 31 (42.5%) from possible to probable IPA, 5 (6.8%) from EORTC criteria not met to probable IPA, and 37 (50.7%) from EORTC criteria not met to possible IPA. Probable IPA increased therefore 11.1% (64/323, 19.8% to 100/323, 30.9%), mostly due to positive PCR (31/36, 86.1%). There was no difference in mortality between newly defined possible and probable IPA (log rank p = 0.950). Mortality was higher in probable cases with lower cycle thresholds (Ct values) versus higher Ct values (p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an optimal Ct value cut-off of 36.8 with a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI 64.9%–85.1%) and a specificity of 61.7% (95% CI 53.5–69.9) for 12-week mortality.DiscussionThe new EORTC criteria led to 11.1% more probable IPA diagnoses, mostly due to Aspergillus PCR. Restricting positive PCR to below a certain threshold might improve the discrimination of the new EORTC IPA categories for mortality.     

基于规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列及其相关蛋白技术检测乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA方法的建立

目的建立一种基于规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列及其相关蛋白(CRISPR/Cas13a)的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)共价闭合环状DNA(HBV cccDNA)检测方法。方法提取2017年6月至2020年10月于首都医科大学附属北京佑安医院就诊的4例乙型肝炎患者肝脏总DNA后,使用HindⅢ内切酶和质粒安全性ATP依赖DNA酶(PSAD)分别进行酶切;根据松弛环状DNA(rcDNA)和cccDNA的结构差异,设计特异性扩增HBV cccDNA的引物,对酶切后的产物进行滚环扩增(RCA)和PCR扩增;并筛选crRNA,建立基于CRISPR/Cas13a技术的HBV cccDNA检测新方法。结果利用α-1-抗胰蛋白酶(A1AT)和HBV表面抗原(HBsAg)引物对双重酶切后的产物进行扩增,验证产物中HBV基因组的存在;利用HBV cccDNA和HBV rcDNA引物对PSDA酶切后的产物扩增,验证了产物中只存在HBV cccDNA;利用RCA后的阳性样本作为模板梯度稀释,然后进行PCR扩增转录后使用CRISPR/Cas13a检测,计算出检测下限为10拷贝/μl。结论本研究建立了RCA-PCR-CRISPR-Cas13a的新型检测方法,可对HBV cccDNA进行高灵敏度和高特异性检测,为乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗评估、治疗终点的确定以及调整治疗方案提供了有效的监测手段。     

Effect of gender on the reliability of COVID-19 rapid antigen test among elderly

Defining con-founders that affect the reliability of diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 is vital to breaking the chain of infection. The elderly population is a higher risk group for the emerging virus. However, gender seems to exert a critical role in modifying the infection risk among women owing to hormonal changes. The menopause transition is an exceptional period for older women where the protective and immunomodulatory effects of the estrogen hormone are lost. Accordingly, attention should be given to postmenopausal women since they will have an increased risk compared to their pre-menopausal peers.     

脾脏ARFI弹性联合血小板计数预测乙肝肝硬化食管静脉曲张的价值

目的 本研究应用声辐射力脉冲成像(Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse ARFI)技术对慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化患者进行脾脏弹性检测和分析,探讨和对比脾脏ARFI弹性及脾脏ARFI弹性联合血小板计数(Platelet Count PC)在预测乙肝肝硬化食道静脉曲张的临床应用价值。方法 对232例慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化患者应用ARFI技术检测脾脏实时超声弹性,并测量PC,所有患者均于检测前后一周内行胃镜检查明确食管静脉曲张情况,以胃镜结果为金标准,应用受试者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic, ROC)曲线比较脾脏ARFI弹性、PC、及脾ARFI弹性联合PC诊断肝硬化食管静脉曲张的临床价值。结果 食道静脉曲张组脾脏ARFI弹性和PC分别为3.52(3.16-3.87)m/s 和62(41-88.25),无食道静脉曲张组脾脏ARFI弹性和PC分别为2.91(2.35-3.35)m/s和129.5(87.25-196.25)。脾脏ARFI弹性和PC在两组间比较的差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.001 )。单独脾脏ARFI弹性及脾脏ARFI弹性联合PC的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.76和0.83,差异具有统计学意义(P = 0.0021)。结论 脾脏ARFI弹性测值联合PC较单纯脾脏ARFI弹性能更准确的无创预测慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化食管静脉曲张的存在,具有良好的临床应用前景。     

Clinical course of masticatory function recovery following arthrocentesis in patients with unilateral mandibular condyle head fracture

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of masticatory function recovery following arthrocentesis. Patients with a unilateral condylar head fracture who underwent arthrocentesis for therapeutic reasons were evaluated and compared with patients with a unilateral condylar head fracture who did not undergo arthrocentesis. At 3 months after treatment, the occlusal contact area and maximum bite force in patients with a fracture treated with arthrocentesis were greater than in those who did not receive arthrocentesis at the same time points, although the differences were not significant. Moreover, at 1 and 3 months following arthrocentesis, mean (±SD) occlusal contact area (1 month: 1.99 ± 0.55 mm², p = 0.01; 3 months: 2.90 ± 1.36 mm², p = 0.03) and maximum bite force (1 month: 82.45 ± 15.04 N, p = 0.01; 3 months: 101.11 ± 14.53 N, p = 0.01) on the fractured side in patients who underwent that treatment were significantly reduced when compared with those on the non-fractured side. The authors conclude that if the priority is to avoid open reduction and internal fixation, then the arthrocentesis approach might be a less invasive alternative, albeit with the price of a prolonged healing interval.