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。     

Filiform needle acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundFiliform needle acupuncture (FNA), the most classical and widely applied acupuncture method based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, has shown a promising effect in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR).ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient preference of FNA in the treatment of AR by comparing FNA with sham acupuncture, no treatment, and conventional medication.Search strategyEight electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to October 14, 2021. Additional studies were acquired from clinical trial registration platforms and reference lists.Inclusion criteriaRandomized controlled trials were included if they compared FNA with either sham acupuncture, no treatment or conventional medication for AR.Data extraction and analysisTwo researchers extracted data independently of each other using a predesigned data acquisition form, and results were cross-checked after completion. The primary outcome was symptom score (Total Nasal Symptom Score or Visual Analogue Scale), and the secondary outcomes were the AR control questionnaire, quality of life (QoL) score (Different versions of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire), medication score (use of rescue medication), mental health score, total IgE, adverse event rate, clinical economic indicators, and patient satisfaction score. Standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval was used to calculate the effect size for continuous data, while risk ratio with 95% CI was used for dichotomous data.ResultsThirty studies were included in this review. Compared with sham acupuncture, FNA significantly reduced the symptom score (SMD: ?0.29 [?0.43, ?0.15]), AR’s impact on QoL (SMD: ?0.23 [?0.37, ?0.08]) and medication score (SMD: ?0.3 [?0.49, ?0.11]). Compared with no treatment, FNA dramatically reduced the symptom score (SMD: ?0.8 [?1.2, ?0.39]) and AR’s impact on QoL (SMD: ?0.82 [?1.13, ?0.52]). There were no increased rates of adverse events with FNA compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment. FNA increased patient satisfaction and may be cost-effective. Most pieces of evidence from the above two comparisons were of high confidence. Moreover, FNA significantly outperformed conventional medication in reducing the symptom score (SMD: ?0.48 [?0.85, ?0.1]) and displayed a lower rate of adverse events, but the quality of evidence was very low.ConclusionFNA is an effective and safe intervention for AR and can help with symptom relief, QoL improvement, reducing medication usage, and increasing patient satisfaction. Further studies are needed to verify its cost-effectiveness and superiority over conventional medication and the best therapeutic strategies.     

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.     

中毒性表皮坏死松解症导致眼部远期并发症1例

中毒性表皮坏死松解症与Stevens-Johnson综合征是一种由药物反应引起的严重的表皮及黏膜的不良反应。最常发生于成人,与服用磺胺类、巴比妥类、非类固醇抗炎药、苯妥英纳、醋甲唑胺、别嘌呤醇和青霉素等药物有关。约有1/5的患者否认有服药史,约在1/3病例中由于同时患有严重疾病及用药物治疗而病因不明。中毒性表皮坏死松解症为皮肤科少数病情危重的疾病之一,其死亡率达30%~35%。20%~40%的存活者有眼睛受累。少数患者由于泪管阻塞可出现泪眼,多数患者表现为睫毛、眼睑上皮增生,伴鳞状化生、结膜和角膜新生血管形成,引起一种中毒性表皮坏死松解症眼综合征。经及时治疗中毒性表皮坏死松解症可好转。但是部分患者眼部情况可继续发展,可引起畏光、灼痛、视力下降甚至失明。现汇报1例中毒性表皮坏死松解症眼综合征患者眼部远期并发症。