Efficacy of dart-delivered PZP-22 immunocontraceptive vaccine in wild horses (Equus caballus) in baited traps in New Mexico, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Carey ◽  
Alexa Ortiz ◽  
Kayla Grams ◽  
Dan Elkins ◽  
John W. Turner Jr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Optimal Time ◽  
Delivery Methods ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Wild Horse ◽  
Baited Traps ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Historical Management ◽  
Immunocontraceptive Vaccine

Abstract Context Federally protected wild horses on public lands are undergoing population growth that overwhelms the historical management strategy of removal and adoption. Porcine zona pellucida (PZP) has been used as an injectable immunocontraceptive vaccine to induce reversible infertility in free-roaming horses. PZP vaccination during February and March, which is the optimal time for administering current vaccines, is not possible for the herd on Jarita Mesa Wild Horse Territory (JM WHT), New Mexico, due to severe weather, terrain and subject wariness. AimsThe first goal was to assess bait trapping and remote darting as a minimally disruptive alternative to helicopter gathers for treatment. The second goal was to quantify the efficacy over 2 years following spring treatment with a single injection of PZP-22 (a combination of PZP-adjuvant emulsion and controlled-release pellets) by remote dart delivery. Methods Bait trapping and dart delivery of PZP-22 was carried out on JM WHT from 4 April to 16 June 2012. The herd was observed in the summers of 2011, 2013 and 2014 to determine the foaling status of the study mares. Outcome (foal or no foal) as a function of treatment was analysed using Fisher’s exact test. Key resultsThere were 157 individuals, including 66 females >1 year old, documented in 2011. In 2012, 26 females (including three yearlings) identified by colour and markings were bait trapped and darted with PZP-22. The proportion of treated females foaling was lower than that of untreated females in 2013 and 2014, but the difference was only significant in 2013. Of the treated mares observed in 2013, the two that foaled were the last two treated in 2012. Untreated mares >4 years old were significantly more likely to foal than younger mares. Conclusions Bait trapping at JM WHT permitted successful delivery of PZP-22 in a previously inaccessible herd. Dart administration of PZP-22 in April–June induced at least 1 year of measurable infertility. Implications This is the first demonstration of the efficacy of an initial treatment of PZP-22 delivered by dart instead of hand injection. Considerations for PZP-22 treatment include seasonal timing of treatments and age of treated mares. Treatments need to take place early enough to allow antibody titers to build to contraceptive levels before the breeding season.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of a 3-Antigen (Pre-S1/Pre-S2/S) Hepatitis B Vaccine: Results of a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial in the Russian Federation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena V Esaulenko ◽  
Aleksey A Yakovlev ◽  
Genady A Volkov ◽  
Anastasia A Sukhoruk ◽  
Kirill G Surkov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Antigen Vaccine ◽  
Single Antigen ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mean Concentration

Abstract Background This study compares the immunogenicity and safety of a 3-antigen (S/pre-S1/pre-S2) hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine (3AV), to a single antigen vaccine (1AV) in adults to support the registration of 3AV in Russia. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, comparative study of 3-dose regimens of 3AV (10 μg) and 1AV (20 µg) in adults aged 18–45 years. We evaluated immunogenicity based on hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibody titers at days 1, 28, 90, 180, and 210, adverse and serious adverse events (SAEs) to study day 210. The primary outcome was based on the difference in rates of seroconversion at day 210 (lower bound 95% confidence interval [CI]: > − 4%). Secondary outcomes were seroprotection rates (SPR), defined as anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL and anti-HBs geometric mean concentration (GMC). Results Rate of seroconversion in 3AV (100%) was noninferior to 1AV (97.9%) at study day 210 (difference: 2.1%, 95% CI: −2.0, 6.3%]) but significantly higher at study day 28. SPR at study day 210 was >97% in both arms. Anti-HBs titers were significantly higher at study days 90 (P = .001) and 180 (P = .0001) with 3AV. Sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) had no impact on anti-HBs titers. The rates of local reactions related to vaccination were similar between vaccine arms (3AV vs 1AV) after the first (30% vs 18.8%, P = .15), second (20.0% vs 14.6%, P = .33), and third vaccination (14.9% vs 23.4%, P = .22). No SAEs were reported. Conclusions 3AV was noninferior to 1AV. 3AV induced high SPR, and there were no safety concerns. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04209400.

scholarly journals PRESENCE OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES IN EQUINES IN BRAZIL

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-195
Author(s):  
Dalva Assunção Portari Mancini ◽  
Aparecida Santo Pietro Pereira ◽  
Rita Maria Zucatelli Mendonça ◽  
Adelia Hiroko Nagamori Kawamoto ◽  
Rosely Cabette Barbosa Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Equine Influenza ◽  
Hemagglutination Inhibition Test ◽  
Parainfluenza Viruses ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Difference

Equines are susceptible to respiratory viruses such as influenza and parainfluenza. Respiratory diseases have adversely impacted economies all over the world. This study was intended to determine the presence of influenza and parainfluenza viruses in unvaccinated horses from some regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Blood serum collected from 72 equines of different towns in this state was tested by hemagglutination inhibition test to detect antibodies for both viruses using the corresponding antigens. About 98.6% (71) and 97.2% (70) of the equines responded with antibody protective titers (≥ 80 HIU/25µL) H7N7 and H3N8 subtypes of influenza A viruses, respectively. All horses (72) also responded with protective titers (≥ 80) HIU/25µL against the parainfluenza virus. The difference between mean antibody titers to H7N7 and H3N8 subtypes of influenza A viruses was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean titers for influenza and parainfluenza viruses, on the other hand, showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). These results indicate a better antibody response from equines to parainfluenza 3 virus than to the equine influenza viruses. No statistically significant differences in the responses against H7N7 and H3N8 subtypes of influenza A and parainfluenza 3 viruses were observed according to the gender (female, male) or the age (≤ 2 to 20 years-old) groups. This study provides evidence of the concomitant presence of two subtypes of the equine influenza A (H7N7 and H3N8) viruses and the parainfluenza 3 virus in equines in Brazil. Thus, it is advisable to vaccinate equines against these respiratory viruses.

scholarly journals Evaluation of toxoplasmosis risk on anxiety and perception of cat owner pregnant women

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-158
Author(s):  
Nur DOKUZEYLUL GÜNGÖR ◽  
Tuğba GÜRBÜZ ◽  
Selma Bozkurt ZİNCİR ◽  
Banu DOKUZEYLÜL ◽  
Erman OR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Level ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Main Host ◽  
The Difference ◽  
At Home

Cats are the main host of Toxoplasma gondii and pregnant women who own cats at home may be at risk. This condition may cause anxiety and stress in pregnant women. The aim of this study is to evaluate toxoplasmosis risk on anxiety and perception of cat owner pregnant women. The study group consisted of 59 pregnant women feeding cats in the home and 369 pregnant women not feeding cats. A Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) was used to measure the anxiety of all participants. Age and anxiety variables were analyzed using a two-sample independent t-test. Gravida, education, and job status were analyzed using chi-square tests, and live to abort ratio & pregnancy number were analyzed using Fisher exact test. Measurement of the anxiety level between the two groups showed that anxiety is significantly higher among the pregnant women who feed cats in their house with an average of 32.03±8.72. The average anxiety level among the pregnant women who don't have cats in their house was 25.94±8.99. The difference between the Health Anxiety Inventory of the two groups was significant (p= 0.0001) It was shown in the literature that pets can reduce anxiety but not studied in pregnant women, yet. Our results showed that pregnant women who own cats at home had more environmental anxiety than women who don’t feed cats at home which is possibly associated with fear of Toxoplasma gondii transmission. This anxiety may also cause unfavorable pregnancy outcomes like eclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight and high incidence of cesarean delivery.

Diversity and abundance of arthropod by-catch in semiochemical-baited traps targeting apple clearwing moth (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in organic and conventional apple orchards in British Columbia, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Marius Aurelian ◽  
Maya L. Evenden ◽  
Gary J.R. Judd
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Grape Juice ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Mass Trapping ◽  
Apple Orchards ◽  
Apple Industry ◽  
Baited Traps ◽  
Clearwing Moth ◽  
The Difference ◽  
By Catch

AbstractApple clearwing moth (ACM),Synanthedon myopaeformis(Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is an invasive species and destructive pest of commercial apple trees in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Mass trapping with Concord grape juice and sex pheromone is being developed as an organic pest management tactic. We quantified the diversity and abundance of arthropod by-catch in these traps during the 2009 flight (13 June–31 July) of ACM. Paired traps were deployed in organic and conventionally managed apple orchards planted using different tree densities representing the extremes of the current BC apple industry. Using seasonal by-catch and community-level statistical analyses we determined that family communities of arthropods caught in juice-baited and pheromone-baited traps differed significantly. Yellow juice-baited traps caught a greater variety of arthropod families in greater abundance than pheromone-baited yellow Unitraps®. We show that for each trap type, family communities caught in organic versus conventional orchards were significantly different. Organic orchard management affected abundance of some beneficial taxa, but the sign of the difference depended on the taxon examined (e.g., ladybeetles increased versus lacewings declined). Tree density had no effect on by-catch. Managing ACM by mass trapping may be detrimental to ecosystem services because many nontarget beneficial species are caught. A balanced risk-to-benefit approach should be taken before this technology is widely implemented against ACM.

Evaluation of different MET genotypes as biomarkers for immunotherapy outcomes in NSCLC patients.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21032-e21032
Author(s):  
Xuanzong Li ◽  
Linlin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Tumor Mutational Burden ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Nsclc Patients

e21032 Background: Previous studies suggested that MET exon 14 ( METex14) mutation regarding as a distinct subset was sensitive to MET-inhibitors, but poorly response to immunotherapy. Conversly, MET non-exon-14 (non-ex14) mutations including those undetermined functions and affecting the kinase or extracellular domains were found to be associated with the resistance to MET-inhibitors. However, therapeutic strategies for MET-non-ex14 mutant cancer are still largely unknown, and the relationship between MET-non-ex14 mutations and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has never been reported. Using two public ICIs-treated cohorts, we aimed to assess the role of MET mutations including both METex14 and MET-non-ex14 mutations in NSCLC patients undergoing ICIs therapy. Methods: A total of 385 ICIs-treated NSCLC patients were enrolled to our study. MET mutations were defined as any nonsynonymous mutations, and we divided them into METex14 and MET-non-ex14 mutation subsets according to the mutated-position on MET. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the difference of tumor mutational burden (TMB) score, and the Fisher’s exact test was applied to compare the rates of durable clinical benefit (DCB). Log-rank test was used to analyze the differences between Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results: In the entire cohort, we found that 17 patients (17/385, 4.4%) had MET mutations, most of which were pure METex14 mutations (10/17, 58.8%). The median TMB of patients in the entire NSCLC cohort was 6.89 mut/Mb. MET-non-ex14 mutant patients (7/385, 1.8%) possessed a significantly higher TMB than METex14-mutant (10/385, 2.6%) and MET wild-type (368/385, 95.6%) sub-cohorts, respectively (median TMB, 17.92 mut/Mb versus 4.17 mut/Mb, p = 0.008; 17.92 mut/Mb versus 6.96 mut/Mb, p = 0.01, respectively). DCB was more common in patients harbored MET-non-ex14 mutations than patients with METex14 mutations and MET wild-type (66.7% versus 14.3%, p = 0.103; 66.7% versus 29.9%, p = 0.075, respectively). We found that patients with MET-non-ex14 mutations had a numerically longer progression free survival (PFS) than those with METex14 mutations and MET wild-type (p = 0.169). Moreover, the PFS was significantly longer in MET-non-ex14-mutant subgroup than patients with METex14 mutations (median PFS, 9.1 versus 2.1 months, p = 0.025). Correspondingly, the overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in MET-non-ex14-mutant subgroup than their wild-type counterparts (median OS, not reached versus 11 months, p = 0.039). Additionally, patients with MET-non-ex14 mutations exhibited relatively better OS versus METex14-mutant patients (median OS, not reached versus 18 months, p = 0.175). Conclusions: MET-non-ex14 mutations were associated with higher TMB, improved DCB rate, and could act as a favorable prognostic biomarker in ICIs-treated NSCLC patients.

Abstract 11653: The Qualitative Grading of Aortic Valve Calcification in Severe Aortic Stenosis is Weakly Associated With Aortic Valve Weight and is Gender Dependent

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragos Alexandru ◽  
Florentina Petillo ◽  
Simcha Pollack ◽  
Nathaniel Reichek ◽  
Eddy Barasch
Keyword(s):  
Aortic Valve ◽  
Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Calcium Score ◽  
Aortic Valve Calcification ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Valve Calcification ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
The Difference

Background: In severe aortic stenosis (AS), qualitative estimation of aortic valve calcification (AVC) burden by echocardiography has diagnostic and prognostic value. Hypothesis: there is a weak association between a qualitative calcium score (QCS) by TEE and AV weight in severe AS. Methods: Between 2010-2014, of 719 pts who underwent surgical AVR for isolated severe AS, QCS was feasible in 483 (67%): mean age 76.7 ± 9.5 yrs, 59% males, EF 56 ±12%, AVAi 0.35 ±0.09 cm2/m2, AVW 2.45 ± 0.09 g, QCS 3.5± 0.57, 11% bicuspid valves . AVC was determined using short- and long-axis views and graded as mild (1) localized, small, nondense calcifications to severe (4) extensive thickening and calcification of all cusps. TEEs were done on the day of surgery and excised valves were weighed. Independent t-test, Fisher’s exact test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation were done as appropriate. Results: Intraclass correlations for intra and interobserver variability were 0.76 and 0.53 , respectively.The association between indices of AS severity and AVC burden, is stronger for AVW than for QCS (table).19 pts had QCS = 2, 183 = 3 and 280 = 4. A QCS of 2 to 4 corresponded to an AVW of 1 to 6 g. The correlation between QCS and AVW was 0.11, p=.01, and 0.09, p =.04 when controlling for age, sex and BSA. QCS-AVW association was gender dependent : for females (196), who had a lower severity of stenosis, r=0.23, p=0.001, for males (286), r=0.02, p=.68 with p =.02 for the difference. Conclusions: 1. In severe AS, QCS by TEE has limited reliability with no relationship with AVW in males and a weak one in females. 2. The utilization of QCS in severe AS even when employing TEE is weakly associated with total AVC burden and should probably be replaced by quantitative objective non- echocardiographic methods.

scholarly journals Soft Coagulation Using Hemostatic Forceps for Prevention of Postendoscopic Papillectomy Hemorrhage

2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. 114-117
Author(s):  
Nobuhiko Fukuba ◽  
Hiroki Sonoyama ◽  
Ichiro Moriyama ◽  
Shunji Ishihara ◽  
Yoshikazu Kinoshita
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Conventional Procedure ◽  
Soft Coagulation ◽  
Secondary Endpoints ◽  
Closed Position ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Prophylactic Use

Aim: Few reports of the prophylactic use of soft coagulation with hemostatic forceps for postendoscopic papillectomy hemorrhage (PEPH) have been presented. The aim of this study was to clarify the utility of that procedure for prophylaxis. Materials and Methods: From April 2009 to March 2012, PEPH was treated in four patients after the development of the condition with a conventional procedure at our institution. Thereafter, from April 2012 to March 2016, soft coagulation using hemostatic forceps was performed as prophylactic hemostasis following an EP in five patients. For the latter procedure, the hemostatic forceps device (FD411‑QR, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was used in a closed position, with the coagulation wave set at 60 W (VIO 300D; ERBE, Tubingen, Germany). The primary outcome was the onset of PEPH, which was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin ≥2 g/dL after EP. Secondary endpoints were the success rate and the incidence of adverse events of soft coagulation using hemostatic forceps for emergency bleeding cases after EP. Results: The incidence of PEPH was 20% (1 of 5 cases) in the prophylactic procedure group, which was lower than that in the conventional procedures group (75%, 3 of 4 cases), though the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.206, Fisher’s exact test). All cases of PEPH were successfully treated by soft coagulation using hemostatic forceps. Conclusion: Soft coagulation with hemostatic forceps may be suitable for use as a routine technique following EP to prevent PEPH.

129 EFFECT OF DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE OF ICSI-PRODUCED EQUINE EMBRYOS ON PREGNANCY RATES

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Stokes ◽  
E. L. Squires ◽  
T. K. Suh ◽  
J. L. Altermat ◽  
E. M. Carnevale
Keyword(s):  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Optimal Time ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Follicle Aspiration ◽  
Transfer Group

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be used to produce offspring from mares or stallions with fertility problems. Early embryos can be transferred into recipients’ oviducts or embryos can be cultured for nonsurgical transfer into recipients’ uteri. The aim of this research was to evaluate the optimal time to transfer ICSI-produced embryos into recipients’ uteri. The objective was to compare pregnancy rates after the nonsurgical transfer of early morulae, compact morulae, and blastocysts. Oocytes were collected by transvaginal, ultrasound-guided follicular aspirations between 20 and 24 h after administration of deslorelin (1.5 mg, i.v., Francks Pharmacy, Ocala, FL, USA) to donors. Oocytes were cultured for 16 to 18 h in M199 (Invitrogen, San Jose, CA, USA) with 10% FCS (HyClone, Logan, UT, USA), 0.2 mm pyruvate (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) and 25 μg mL–1 gentamycin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 38.5°C and 6% CO2. Cumulus cells were denuded by gentle pipetting, after oocytes were placed into hyaluronidase (500 U mg–1, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA). Oocytes were injected with a single sperm from one of two stallions, with sperm being frozen or sex-sorted and refrozen (Squires EL et al. 2008). Forty-six of 62 (74%) injected oocytes cleaved. The presumptive zygotes were cultured in DMEM/F12 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) with 10% FCS at 38.5°C and an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2. Embryos were placed in fresh medium every 3 days. Injected oocytes were observed for cleavage at 2 days, and embryos were assigned to a transfer group. Embryos were transferred as early morulae (EM, 8-cell to precompaction stage, n = 14), compact morulae (CM, postcompaction, n = 10) or blastocysts (B, observed blastocoele, n = 9) into recipients at 3 to 5 days (EM), 3 to 6 days (CM) or 5 to 6 days (B) after the recipient’s ovulation or follicle aspiration. Pregnancy scans were performed on Day 12, 14, and 16 after ICSI, and pregnant recipients were examined until 30 days to detect the embryo proper and heartbeat. Number of embryonic vesicles detected per transferred embryo was determined by Fisher’s Exact Test. Pregnancy rates differed (P = 0.0017) among groups (EM, 1/14, 7%; CM, 4/10, 40%; B, 7/9, 78%), with fewer (P = 0.001) EM than B resulting in embryonic vesicles; however, pregnancy rates were not significantly different between CM and other embryo stages. An embryo proper with heartbeat was observed for all pregnancies, with the exception of one pregnancy resulting from the transfer of a blastocyst. In this study, all blastocysts were transferred prior to the embryo attempting to hatch from the zona pellucida, but after the appearance of a distinct blastoceole. In our study, pregnancy rates were higher after the transfer of later v. earlier stages of embryo development.

112 Comparative study between slow freezing and vitrification on the survival rate of cryopreserved alpaca embryos post-transfer

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Vivanco-Mackie ◽  
M. D. Ponce-Salazar ◽  
M. Miguel-Gonzales ◽  
C. R. Youngs ◽  
C. Jara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethylene Glycol ◽  
Transrectal Ultrasound ◽  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Slow Freezing ◽  
Direct Transfer ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Buserelin Acetate ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Twin Pregnancies

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cryopreserving in vivo-produced alpaca embryos by slow freezing v. vitrification. The embryos were produced from 9 female alpacas at Fundo Mallkini, Puno, Peru, located at 4300m elevation. The donor alpacas were synchronized by induction to ovulate with an injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (0.0084mg of buserelin acetate) and natural mating with vasectomized males to male receptive donors (day of ovulation induction was considered Day 0). On Day 2, the donors were injected 700IU of eCG. On Day 7, the donors received an injection of prostaglandin F2α (0.25mg of cloprostenol) and were mated on Day 8 by fertile males (2 matings 12h apart: 0600 and 1800h). The embryos were collected at 5.5 days after fertile mating and were graded as per IETS recommendations; most of the embryos were already expanded and hatched blastocysts. Embryos were washed and maintained in holding medium (1L PBS+1g Glucose+36mg sodium pyruvate+0.4% BSA+50mg kanamycin monosulfate) at 23°C for up to 1h and distributed into 2 groups for either slow freezing for direct transfer (n=14 embryos) or vitrification (n=10 embryos). Slow freezing consisted of transfer into freezing medium (9mL of 1.5M ethylene glycol+1mL of 1.0M sucrose prepared in holding media) at 23°C, placing in 0.25-mL straws and subjected to freezing at a rate of −0.5°C/ minute to −35°C and then plunging into LN. Vitrification followed a procedure described for camel embryos whereby embryos were exposed to solutions containing increasing amounts of glycerol and ethylene glycol for fixed periods and were then loaded into an open pull straw and plunged directly into LN for storage. The cryopreserved embryos were transferred into adult alpacas at the Community of Suitucancha, Junin, Peru (1500km from the farm where the embryos were collected and cryopreserved, 4200m elevation). Embryos in the slow-freezing group were thawed in warm water at 37°C for 30s and loaded directly into the embryo transfer gun for direct transfer into 7 alpaca recipients (2 embryos per recipient). Vitrified embryos were warmed by removing the open pull straw from the LN and transferring the embryos to 2 warming solutions at 37°C with decreasing levels of vitricants and containing 0.5M galactose with a final incubation at room temperature in holding media and then transferred into 5 alpaca recipients (2 embryos per recipient). The embryos were transferred into synchronized recipients by transcervical nonsurgical method. Pregnancy diagnosis was made by transrectal ultrasound examination at 45 days post-transfer. The pregnancy rates in the slow-freezing and vitrification groups, respectively, were 2/7 (29%) and 0/5 (0%); the difference was not significant (P&gt;0.05) based on Fisher’s exact test. Twin pregnancies were not detected. We consider the result with slow freezing very promising, as in previous trials we had less than 18% pregnancies. More trials with larger number of embryos per cryopreservation method are being programmed.

scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Neutralizing Antibody Titers in Convalescent Plasma and Recipients in New Mexico: An Open Treatment Study in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (10) ◽  
pp. 1620-1628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B Bradfute ◽  
Ivy Hurwitz ◽  
Alexandra V Yingling ◽  
Chunyan Ye ◽  
Qiuying Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Traditional Food ◽  
Neutralizing Activity ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Open Treatment ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Donor Plasma

Abstract Background Convalescent plasma (CP) is a potentially important therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, knowledge regarding neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers in donor plasma and their impact in patients with acute COVID-19 remains largely undetermined. We measured NAb titers in CP and in patients with acute COVID-19 before and after transfusion through the traditional Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug pathway. Methods We performed a single-arm interventional trial measuring NAb and total antibody titers before and after CP transfusion over a 14-day period in hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Results NAb titers in the donor CP units were low (&lt;1:40 to 1:160) and had no effect on recipient neutralizing activity 1 day after transfusion. NAb titers were detected in 6 of 12 patients on enrollment and in 11 of 12 at ≥2 time points. Average titers peaked on day 7 and declined toward day 14 (P = .004). Nab titers and immunoglobulin G levels were correlated in donor plasma units (ρ = 0.938; P &lt; .001) and in the cumulative patient measures (ρ = 0.781; P &lt; .001). Conclusions CP infusion did not alter recipient NAb titers. Prescreening of CP may be necessary for selecting donors with high titers of neutralizing activity for infusion into patients with COVID-19. Clinical Trials Registration NCT04434131.

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