scholarly journals Evaluation of Antibody Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines among Solid Tumor and Hematologic Patients

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4312
Author(s):  
Josef Singer ◽  
Nguyen-Son Le ◽  
Daniel Mattes ◽  
Valerie Klamminger ◽  
Klaus Hackner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumor ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Vulnerable Patients ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Vaccination is the primary public health strategy to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although solid tumor and hematologic patients are at higher risk of serious COVID-19-related complications, data on immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in this patient cohort are particularly scarce. The present study, therefore, aimed at the standardized determination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titers among non-vaccinated versus vaccinated solid tumor and hematologic patients who are under clinical observation or under treatment at the University Hospital Krems. Standardized anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody titers of a total of 441 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Our results show that antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are significantly higher in solid tumor versus hematologic patients. While SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were equal among sexes, an age-dependent decrease was observed. Of note, our studies additionally show that complete vaccination represents a valuable predictor for high anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in solid tumor and hematologic patients. In summary, to date, this is one of the largest studies to comprehensively evaluate the impact of various COVID-19 vaccines on anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody production in solid tumor and hematologic patients. Our findings aim to support future vaccination strategies in these highly vulnerable patients, including vaccination booster programs and alternative protective approaches.

scholarly journals Rapid semi-quantitative point of care diagnostic test for post vaccination antibody monitoring

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Moeller ◽  
Frederik N. Engsig ◽  
Melanie Bade ◽  
Jeppe Fock ◽  
Pearlyn Pah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Quantitative Detection ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Post Vaccination

ABSTRACTIntroductionPoint-of-care (POC) quantification of the antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein can enable decentralized monitoring of immune responses after infection or vaccination. We evaluated a novel POC microfluidic cartridge-based device (ViroTrack Sero COVID-19 Total Ab) for quantitative detection of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Spike trimeric spike protein and compared to standard laboratory chemiluminescence (CLIA) based tests.MethodsCapillary- and venous blood samples were collected from 101 individuals employed at Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Antibody responses were measured on capillary-, venous whole blood, plasma and diluted plasma samples directly on the POC instrument. POC results were available within seven minutes on the microfluidic cartridge reader. Plasma samples were analysed on the DiaSorin LIAISON® XL CLIA Analyzer using LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 IgM, LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG and LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assays. The data from the CLIA platform was used as a reference.ResultsThe Spearman rank’s correlation coefficient between ViroTrack Sero COVID-19 Total Ab and LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG and LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assays is found to be 0.86 and 0.90 respectively. ViroTrack Sero COVID-19 Total Ab furthermore showed high correlation (>0.86) among the different sample matrixes. The agreement for determination of samples >200 BAU/mL on POC and CLIA methods is estimated to be around 90%.ConclusionViroTrack Sero Covid Total Ab is a very rapid and simple-to-use POC test with high sensitivity and high correlation of the numerical results expressed in BAU/mL when compared to a commercial CLIA assay.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related psychological effect on orthopedic surgeries conducted in different types of hospitals in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 230949902199607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Lung Shih ◽  
Peng-Ju Huang ◽  
Hsuan-Ti Huang ◽  
Chung-Hwan Chen ◽  
Tien-Ching Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Hospital ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Total Knee Arthroplasties ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Total Knee ◽  
Investigation Period ◽  
Orthopedic Diseases ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Aim: Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differed in that it successfully prevented the spread without having to shutdown or overburden medical services. Patients’ fear regarding the pandemic would be the only reason to reduce surgeries, so Taiwan could be the most suitable place for research on the influence of psychological factors. This study aimed to assess the impact of patients’ fear on orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan amid the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and Methods: The investigation period included the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to April 2020) and the corresponding period in the previous year. The following data on patients with orthopedic diseases were collected: outpatient visits, hospital admission, and surgical modalities. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 22%–29% and 20%–26% reduction in outpatients, 22%–27% and 25%–37% reduction in admissions, and 26%–35% and 18%–34% reduction in surgeries, respectively, at both hospitals. The weekly mean number of patients was significantly smaller during the COVID-19 pandemic for all types of surgery and elective surgeries at the university hospital, and for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties at the community hospital. Further, patients visiting the community hospital during the pandemic were significantly younger, for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties. Conclusions: The reduction in orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan’s hospitals during COVID-19 could be attributed to patients’ fear. Even without restriction, the pandemic inevitably led to a reduction of about 20%–30% of the operation volume.

scholarly journals Frailty Is Associated With Increased Hemagglutination-Inhibition Titers in a 4-Year Randomized Trial Comparing Standard- and High-Dose Influenza Vaccination

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Loeb ◽  
Melissa K Andrew ◽  
Mark Loeb ◽  
George A Kuchel ◽  
Laura Haynes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Hemagglutination Inhibition ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Although high-dose (HD) vaccines have been reported to stimulate higher antibody responses compared with standard-dose (SD) influenza vaccines, there have been limited studies on the impact of frailty on such responses. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial (2014/2015 to 2017/2018) of SD versus HD trivalent split-virus vaccine (Fluzone) in 612 study participants aged 65+ over 4 influenza seasons. Hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers for influenza H1N1, H3N2, and B vaccine subtypes were measured at baseline and at 4, 10, and 20 weeks postvaccination and frailty was measured using a validated frailty index. Results Geometric mean antibody titers were significantly higher in HD compared with SD vaccine recipients for all influenza subtypes at all time points postvaccination. However, frailty was positively correlated with 4-week titers and was associated with increased odds of being a vaccine responder. For influenza A subtypes, this was mostly limited to HD recipients. Conclusions Frailty was associated with higher titers and increased antibody responses at 4 weeks after influenza vaccination, which was partially dependent on vaccine dosage. Chronic inflammation or dysregulated immunity, both of which are commonly observed with frailty, may be responsible, but it requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Impact of ERAS compliance on the delay between surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies

2020 ◽  
Vol 405 (7) ◽  
pp. 959-966
Author(s):  
Pénélope St-Amour ◽  
Pascal St-Amour ◽  
Gaëtan-Romain Joliat ◽  
Aude Eckert ◽  
Ismail Labgaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Enhanced Recovery ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Colorectal Metastases ◽  
Liver Malignancies ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Eras Protocol ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Multidisciplinary approach with adjuvant chemotherapy is the key element to provide optimal outcomes in pancreas and liver malignancies. However, post-operative complications may increase the interval between surgery and chemotherapy with negative oncologic effects. Hypothesis and study aim The aim of the study was to analyse whether compliance to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway was associated with decreased interval to adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods Retrospective analysis of all consecutive ERAS patients with surgery for hepatobiliary or pancreatic malignancies at the University Hospital of Lausanne between 2012 and 2016. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the impact of ERAS compliance on time to chemotherapy. Results A total of 133 patients with adjuvant chemotherapy were included (n = 44 liver and n = 89 pancreatic cancer). Median compliance to ERAS was 61% (IQR 55–67) for the study population, and median delay to chemotherapy was 49 days (IQR 39-61). Overall, compliance ≥ 67% to ERAS induced a significant reduction in the interval between surgery and chemotherapy for young patients (< 65 years old) with or without severe comorbidities (reduction of 22 and 10 days, respectively). High compliance in young ASA3 patients with liver colorectal metastases was associated with an increase of 481 days of DFS. Conclusions ERAS compliance ≥ 67% tends to be associated with a reduction in the delay to adjuvant chemotherapy for young patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies. More prospective studies with strict adhesion to the ERAS protocol are needed to confirm these results.

scholarly journals Emergency Response for Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Immune Status, Seroprevalence and Convalescent Plasma in Argentina

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego S. Ojeda ◽  
María Mora Gonzalez Lopez Ledesma ◽  
Horacio Pallares ◽  
Guadalupe S. Costa Navarro ◽  
Lautaro Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
Antibody Levels

ABSTRACTWe report the emergency development and application of a robust serologic test to evaluate acute and convalescent antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Argentina. The assays, COVIDAR IgG and IgM, which were produced and provided for free to health authorities, private and public health institutions and nursing homes, use a combination of a trimer stabilized spike protein and the receptor binding domain (RBD) in a single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plate. Over half million tests have already been distributed to detect and quantify antibodies for multiple purposes, including assessment of immune responses in hospitalized patients and large seroprevalence studies in neighborhoods, slums and health care workers, which resulted in a powerful tool for asymptomatic detection and policy making in the country. Analysis of antibody levels and longitudinal studies of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in over one thousand patient samples provided insightful information about IgM and IgG seroconversion time and kinetics, and IgM waning profiles. At least 35% of patients showed seroconversion within 7 days, and 95% within 45 days of symptoms onset, with simultaneous or close sequential IgM and IgG detection. Longitudinal studies of asymptomatic cases showed a wide range of antibody responses with median levels below those observed in symptomatic patients. Regarding convalescent plasma applications, a protocol was standardized for the assessment of end point IgG antibody titers with COVIDAR with more than 500 plasma donors. The protocol showed a positive correlation with neutralizing antibody titers, and was used to assess antibody titers for clinical trials and therapies across the country. Here, we demonstrate the importance of providing a robust and specific serologic assay for generating new information about antibody kinetics in infected individuals and mitigation policies to cope with pandemic needs.AUTHOR SUMMARYThe development of robust and specific serologic assays to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is essential to understand the pandemic evolution and to stablish mitigation strategies. Here, we report the emergency development, production and application of a versatile ELISA test for detecting antibodies against the whole spike protein and its receptor binding domain. Over half million tests have been freely distributed in public and private health institutions of Argentina for evaluating immune responses, convalescent plasma programs and for large seroprevalence studies in neighborhoods and health care workers. We are still learning how and when to use serologic testing in different epidemiological settings. This program allowed us to produce large amount of high quality data on antibody levels in symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and generate relevant information about IgM and IgG seroconversion time and kinetics. We also present standardized protocols for antibody quantification as guidance for convalescent donor plasma selection in hospitals throughout the country for compassionate use and clinical trials. Here, we provide a framework for generating widely available tools, protocols and information of antibody responses for pandemic management.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, in Corsica (France), April and June 2020.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisandru Capai ◽  
Nazli Ayhan ◽  
Shirley Masse ◽  
Jean Canarelli ◽  
Stephane Priet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralization Test ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Blood Analysis ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
P Value ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sera Samples

Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection after the lockdown in a sample of the Corsican population. Between 16th April and 15th June 2020, 2,312 residual sera were collected from patients having carried out a blood analysis in one of the participating laboratories. Residual sera obtained from persons of all ages were tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG using the EUROIMMUN enzyme immunoassay kit for semiquantitative detection of IgG antibodies against S1 domain of viral spike protein (ELISA-S). Borderline and positive samples in ELISA-S were also tested with an in-house virus neutralization test (VNT). Prevalence values were adjusted for sex and age. A total of 1,973 residual sera samples were included in the study. The overall seroprevalence based on ELISA-S was 5.27% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.33-6.35] and 5.46% [4.51-6.57] after adjustment. Gender was not associated with IgG detection. However, significant differences were observed between age groups (p-value = 1 E-5) and particularly for people being younger than 50 years of age (Odd ratio (OR) = 2.86 95% CI [1.80- 4.53]; p-value <0.000001*). The prevalence of neutralizing antibody titers ≥40 was of 3% [2.28-3.84]. In conclusion the present study showed that a low seroprevalence for COVID-19 in Corsica in accordance with values reported for other French regions in which the impact of the pandemic was low.

scholarly journals Explosion of Excess Stock Ammunition. The Impact on the Health of the Civil Community and the Army.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luan Nikollari ◽  
Adriana Bejleri ◽  
Dorela Vasha ◽  
Agron Dogjani
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Security Threat ◽  
Communist Countries ◽  
The University ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Impact

Albania, like all the former communist countries, has inherited in 50 years a large arsenal of weapons and ammunition stockpiles, as shells and projectiles of various calibers, which constituted a negative phenomenon and seriously jeopardized the lives of people and communities throughout the geography of their deployment. After the 1990s, the Albanian Armed Forces embarked on the path of transformation and integration of Albania into NATO. In this framework, the implementation of defense reforms aimed the reduction and modernization of the military. In this context, one of the transformation goals was the getting rid of the remaining excess ammunition that was being destroyed under the programs of the Ministry of Defense and partner countries and the role of the University Hospital of Trauma and the Military Hospital in Tirana, Albania. This paper aims to discuss the security threat that these stockpiles pose to our nation and the wiser region. It also explains how the excess munitions eliminating process was completed in Albania. 

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 epidemiological restriction guidelines measures in a Croatian tertiary colorectal cancer center

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Iva Kirac ◽  
◽  
Zvonimir Misir ◽  
Vesna Vorih ◽  
Loris Ćurt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Colorectal Surgery ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Solid Cancer ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
The One ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Given

Background: In the past six months, Croatia faced a short lockdown and a slow return to most hospitals’ everyday activities. During the lockdown, our center, as a part of the University Hospital Centre specialized for solid cancer, was enabled to maintain most of the routine practices with the one-month colonoscopy exception. Aim: To determine the oscillation in the number of endoscopies and colorectal surgery for 13 months (six months pre and post COVID-19 lockdown). Materials and methods: From August 1st, 2019, until August 31st 2020, the hospital analytics determine the number of colonoscopies, screening colonoscopies, and surgeries. Results: During the given period number of detected and operated colorectal cancers was stable, except for April, when we mostly did not perform colonoscopies. Conclusion: We maintained a pre-COVID-19 pace in colorectal cancer treatment, colonoscopies, and colorectal surgery after epidemiological guidelines for colonoscopies and colorectal surgery were applied, owing to the relatively stable overall epidemiological situation.

scholarly journals Possibilities of using social networks in the modern educational process in universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 ◽  
pp. 00084
Author(s):  
V.A. Buzni ◽  
M.E. Ivanova ◽  
L.I. Abbasova
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Personal Communication ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The University ◽  
Educational Potential ◽  
The Impact

The article discusses issues related to the study of the main attributes of the modern digital media space – social networks. The key issue, which is reflected in this article, concerns the educational potential of social networks, as well as their abilities in the context of the system of professional training of modern, competitive and most relevant specialists. The essence and specificity of social networks, their segments, effects and developing areas are determined. The possibilities of using social networks in the modern educational process in universities are revealed, and the process of their use is actualized, their certain potential is emphasized, as well as the effectiveness and inefficiency of individual elements of social networks. The study was based on a questionnaire survey – one of the most statistically useful and significant methods for researching the impact and effectiveness of socially significant technologies used in any area. The questioning was carried out among the student and pedagogical communities of the Republic of Crimea through a questionnaire and a survey posted on the “Vkontakte” social network, receiving the priority attention of most students and teachers both for personal communication and for remote interaction for educational purposes. In total about 100 teachers and about 150 students from various Crimean universities, areas of training, forms of education took part in the survey. The topic of the questionnaire is “The determination of educational opportunities for using social networks in the modern educational space of the university” and “The identification of the most effective options for using social networks in the modern educational process of the university”. The respondents gave answers to the questionnaire questions anonymously and impartially, which guarantees the reliability and accuracy of the results obtained.

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