Humoral Immunity against Measles in Mother–Infant Pairs during the First Year of Life in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study

Measles outbreaks have surfaced in Europe during the last decades. Infants <12 months of age were the most severely affected pediatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the duration of maternally derived measles antibodies in infants aged 1 to 12 months in relation to maternal humoral immune status and other parameters. In a prospective, cross-sectional cohort study, 124 mother/infant pairs and 63 additional infants were recruited from October 2015 through December 2019. Infants were hospitalized in a university pediatric department of a general hospital. Demographic and epidemiological data were recorded and blood samples were collected from mothers and their infants. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for measuring measles antibodies. Fifty nine percent of mothers had vaccine-induced and 15% infection-acquired measles immunity. Eighty-eight percent and 94% of infants were unprotected by 5 and 10 months of age, respectively. Maternal antibody levels and infant age were significant independent predictors of infants’ antibody levels whereas the method of maternal immunity acquisition, age, and origin [Greek/non-Greek] were not. Our findings suggest that about 90% of infants are susceptible to measles beyond the age of 4 months. To our knowledge, these are the first data from Greece reported under the current community composition and epidemiological conditions.

Download Full-text

Antibody Profile of Colostrum and the Effect of Processing in Human Milk Banks: Implications in Immunoregulatory Properties

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334417706359 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 137-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Claudio Rodríguez-Camejo ◽

Arturo Puyol ◽

Laura Fazio ◽

Analía Rodríguez ◽

Emilia Villamil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Specific Reactivity ◽

Antibody Profile ◽

Milk Banks ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

Mother’S Own Milk

Background: When feeding preterm infants, donor milk is preferred if the mother’s own milk is unavailable. Pasteurization may have detrimental effects on bioactivity, but more information is needed about its effects on the immunological compounds. Research aim: This work has two main aims: evaluate the antibody profile of colostrum and study the quantitative variations in the antibodies’ level and specific reactivity after undergoing Holder pasteurization. The authors focused on immunoregulatory components of colostrum (antidietary antibodies and TGF-β2) in the neonatal gut. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 67 donated colostrum samples at different days after delivery, both raw and pasteurized. Antibody profiles were analyzed at different times during breastfeeding, and total and specific antibodies (IgM, IgA, and IgG subclasses) were compared with tetanus toxoid and ovalbumin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The processing effect on total and specific antibodies, as well as TGF-β2, was evaluated by paired analyses. Results: No variations in immunological compounds were observed throughout the colostrum stage. The TGF-β2, antibodies’ concentrations, and antibodies’ specific reactivity after pasteurization did not vary significantly as days of lactation varied. Changes in antibody levels were dependent on isotype and IgG subclass, and IgG4 showed remarkable resistance to heating. Moreover, the effect of the pasteurization on specific reactivity was antigen dependent. Conclusion: The supply of relevant immunological components is stable throughout the colostrum stage. The effects of pasteurization on antibodies depend on isotype, subclass, and specificity. This information is relevant to improving the immunological quality of colostrum, especially for preterm newborns.

Download Full-text

HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE TO PORPHYROMONAS GINGIVALIS IN POSTPARTUM WOMEN AND NEWBORNS

Brazilian Journal of Medicine and Human Health ◽

10.17267/2317-3386bjmhh.v4i3.982 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Soraya Castro Trindade ◽

Isaac Suzart Gomes-Filho ◽

Simone Seixas da Cruz ◽

Edson José Carpintero Rezende ◽

Thiago Carôso Fróes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽

Serum Antibody ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Maternity Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

High Serum ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Humoral Immune ◽

Antibody Levels

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) the in subgingival biofilm, as well as to compare the immune responses of postpartum women and their newborns to Porphyromonas gingivalis using antibody serum levels.Methods: A total of 43 postpartum women and 24 newborns were selected in the municipal maternity hospital of Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil between February and December 2003, for this cross-sectional study. The presence of Pg was verified using polymerase chain reaction. The immunoglobulin serum levels: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and IgA, reactive to Pg ATCC33277, were tested using ELISA. Results: 39,3% of the postpartum women biofilm samples were positive for Pg. The incidence of the pathogen in the women with periodontitis (70%) was higher than in the group of women without periodontitis (30,30%). Among the newborns, high serum levels of IgG4 anti-Pg were observed (p<0.001).Conclusion: Our findings confirm that postpartum women with periodontitis present remarkable incidence of Porphyromonas gingivalis which may influence systemic response, as represented by high levels of serum antibody levels against this pathogen in women and newborns. Furthermore, evidence suggests that some antibodies crossed the placental barrier in newborns.

Download Full-text

Early Waning of Maternal Measles Antibodies in Infants in Zhejiang Province, China: A Comparison of Two Cross-Sectional Serosurveys

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16234680 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (23) ◽

pp. 4680 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ka Chun Chong ◽

Yan Rui ◽

Yan Liu ◽

Tianyuan Zhou ◽

Katherine Jia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geometric Mean ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Population Based ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Measles Vaccine ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Measles Antibodies ◽

Low Levels ◽

Vaccination Campaigns ◽

Antibody Levels

In China, children aged <8 months, who were expected to be protected by maternal antibodies before receiving the first dose of measles vaccine, were the age group with the greatest risk of infection in recent years. In this study, we evaluated whether infants yet to be age-eligible for measles vaccine had a sufficient seropositive level of maternal measles antibodies in 2009 and 2013. Blood samples were collected from infants aged <8 months through population-based serological surveys conducted in Zhejiang, China. Serum levels of immunoglobulin G measles antibodies were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In 2013, the mean geometric mean titres (GMTs) of infants aged 4 to 8 months were below the seropositivity threshold (<200 mIU/mL), decreasing from 118.6 mIU/mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 83.0, 169.3 mIU/mL) at 4 months to 28.6 mIU/mL (95% CI 15.6, 52.3 mIU/mL) at 7 months. Antibody levels were significantly lower in 2013 than in 2009 starting from 5 months of age. In conclusion, infants aged 4 to 8 months are susceptible to measles due to low levels of maternal measles antibodies. It is thus suggested to provide infants with a supplementary dose on top of the routine schedule, and/or launch catch-up vaccination campaigns among young women.

Download Full-text

Quantitative Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Status between Patients with Cancer and Healthy Individuals with Extended Vaccination Dosing Intervals in Canada

Current Oncology ◽

10.3390/curroncol29010006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 68-76

Author(s):

Andrew Robinson ◽

Andrew Mazurek ◽

Minqi Xu ◽

Yanping Gong

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Hematological Malignancies ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cytotoxic Chemotherapy ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Group ◽

Solid Cancer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hematological Cancer ◽

Antibody Levels

(1) Background: To date, data addressing the antibody response of cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are limited. To our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate humoral immunity. responses in Canadian cancer patients. (2) Methods: 116 cancer patients and 35 healthy participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The interval between the first and second doses were closely matched during analysis. IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor–binding domain were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (3) Results: Following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (including BNT162b2, AZD1222, and mRNA-1273), the mean serum anti-spike protein antibody level was 382.4 BAU/mL (binding antibody unit, SD ± 9.4) in the control group, 265.8 BAU/mL (±145.7) in solid cancer patients, and 168.2 BAU/mL (±172.9) in hematological cancer patients. Observed differences were significantly lower in both solid and hematological groups when comparing to the control group (p ≤ 0.0001). In solid cancer group, patients with cytotoxic chemotherapy demonstrated significantly lower antibody levels (p < 0.01), whereas the rest of the patients showed similar antibody levels as the healthy control. Antibody levels were lower in those on treatment than those off treatment in patients with hematological malignancies (p < 0.0001) but not for those with solid cancers (p = 0.4553). (4) Conclusions: After two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, patients with solid and hematological malignancies demonstrated impaired serological responses. This was particularly prominent if there was cytotoxic chemotherapy or systemic therapy in solid and hematological cancer, respectively.

Download Full-text

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Viruses among Pregnant Women in Northern Iran

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2021/5130586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Farzin Sadeghi ◽

Zahra Golchob ◽

Maryam Javadian ◽

Mohammad Barary ◽

Parisa Sabbagh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Northern Iran ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Proactive Measures ◽

Antibody Levels

Background. Hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis E viruses (HEV) are endemic in Iran and are known major causes of acute viral hepatitis. Also, during pregnancy, they are associated with severe outcomes. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate the antibody levels against HAV and HEV in pregnant women to avoid severe outcomes incidence. Study design and methods. A total of 247 pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. In addition to completing the questionnaire and interviewing all participants, the serum samples were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The association between anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies status and risk factors was evaluated. Results. The mean age of patients was 28.06 ± 5.29 years. Anti-HAV antibody was found in 111 patients (44.9%), while anti-HEV antibody was detected in only two pregnant women (0.8%). The seroprevalence of HAV was inversely related to the level of education. There was no significant correlation between HAV antibody levels and age, marital status, residence location, and pregnancy trimesters. Conclusion. Considering many complications of these diseases in pregnancy, the detection of enteroviral hepatitis, especially HAV in pregnant women, is necessary, and therefore, proactive measures, such as promoting education, improving people awareness, and vaccination, are recommended.

Download Full-text

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses among pregnant women in Northern Iran

10.1101/2021.04.15.21255531 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Farzin Sadeghi ◽

Zahra Golchob ◽

Maryam Javadian ◽

Mohammad Barary ◽

Parisa Sabbagh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Northern Iran ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Proactive Measures ◽

Antibody Levels

Background: Hepatitis A (HAV) and Hepatitis E viruses (HEV) are endemic in Iran and are known major causes of acute viral hepatitis. Also, during pregnancy, they are associated with severe outcomes. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate the antibody levels against HAV and HEV in pregnant women to avoid severe outcomes incidence. Study design and methods: A total of 247 pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. In addition to completing the questionnaire and interviewing all participants, the serum samples were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The association between anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies status and risk factors was evaluated. Results: The mean age of patients was 28.06 +- 5.29 years. Anti-HAV antibody was found in 111 patients (44.9%), while anti-HEV antibody was detected in only two pregnant women (0.8%). The seroprevalence of HAV was inversely related to the level of education. There was no significant correlation between HAV antibody levels and age, marital status, residence location, and pregnancy trimesters. Conclusion: Considering many complications of these diseases in pregnancy, the detection of enteroviral hepatitis, especially HAV in pregnant women, is necessary, and therefore, proactive measures, such as promoting education, improving people awareness, and vaccination, are recommended.

Download Full-text

Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.794642 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Waleed H. Mahallawi ◽

Walaa A. Mumena

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Humoral Immune Response ◽

Weight Status ◽

Age Groups ◽

Vaccine Dose ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Humoral Immune ◽

Related Symptom

BackgroundThe relationships of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination with reactogenicity and the humoral immune response are important to study. The current study aimed to assess the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines among adults in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study, including 365 randomly selected adult Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine recipients who received a homologous prime-boost vaccination between February 1st and June 30th, 2021. Data of height and weight were collected to assess the weight status of percipients. An evaluation of seropositivity for anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsAmong the participants, 69% (n = 250) reported at least one vaccine-related symptom. Pain at the injection site was the most frequently reported vaccine-related symptom. The mean total score for vaccine-related symptoms was significantly higher among participants who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, women, and participants with no previous COVID-19 infection (p < 0.05). Spike-specific IgG antibodies were detected in 98.9% of participants after the receipt of two vaccine doses, including 99.5% of Pfizer vaccine recipients and 98.3% of AstraZeneca vaccine recipients. Significantly, higher proportions of participants in the <35-year age group developed a humoral immune response after the first vaccine dose compared with the participants in other age groups.ConclusionParticipants who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine reported fewer vaccine-related complications compared with those who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, but no serious side effects were reported in response to either vaccine. Health status and age were factors that may influence COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness for the generation of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Download Full-text

The comparison of IL-17 levels in patients with unstable angina before and after medical treatment

Human Antibodies ◽

10.3233/hab-210446 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Ahmad Boluri ◽

Hosseinali Khazaei ◽

Narjes Sargolzaei ◽

Hanie Olfat Miri ◽

Bahman Khazaei

Keyword(s):

Serum Level ◽

Unstable Angina ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Interleukin 17 ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Clinical Instability ◽

Before And After

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-17 plays a central role in orchestrating the cytokine cascade and accelerates atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability in animal models. However, epidemiological data evaluating the role of IL-17 levels in unstable angina are lacking. The aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the IL-17 levels in unstable angina (UA) cases before and after treatment. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from July to October 2018 in Ali Iben-abitaleb heart center, Zahedan, Iran. 48 patients with UA in the age range of below 50 years entered the study. All demographic, past medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) data were collected. Serum level of IL-17 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. In all the tests, P< 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. All data analyses were performed using the SPSS 13.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). RESULTS: In this study, 48 UA patients, including 34 women and 16 men with a mean age of 56.60 years were included in the study. The mean serum level of interleukin 17 after treatment (65.13 ± 53.29 pg/dl) was significantly lower than Its level before treatment (94.89 ± 51.25 pg/dL) (P< 0/05). CONCLUSION: Our findings point towards a role of inflammation in the form of increased activity of IL-17 in UA patients and thus suggest that IL-17-driven inflammation may play a role in the promotion of clinical instability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Download Full-text

Angiogenin—A Proposed Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease—Is Not Associated With Long-Term Survival in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Angiology ◽

10.1177/00033197211004393 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000331972110043

Author(s):

Clemens Höbaus ◽

Gerfried Pesau ◽

Bernhard Zierfuss ◽

Renate Koppensteiner ◽

Gerit-Holger Schernthaner

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Artery Disease ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Ankle Brachial Index ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Peripheral Artery ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Term Survival ◽

Artery Disease

We evaluated angiogenin as a prospective biomarker in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients with and without claudication symptoms. A pilot study suggested an elevation of angiogenin in critical limb ischemia. However, in PAD patients, the predictive value of angiogenin has not yet been evaluated. For this purpose, 342 patients with PAD (age: 69 ± 10 years, 34.5% women) were followed-up for 7 years in a cross-sectional study. Angiogenin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed by Cox regression. Angiogenin levels were higher in men ( P = .001) and were associated with patient waist-to-hip ratio ( P < .001), fasting triglycerides ( P = .011), and inversely with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( P = .009). However, angiogenin showed no association with age, characteristics of diabetes, markers of lipid metabolism, or C-reactive protein. Angiogenin did not correlate with markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, or tie-2. Furthermore, angiogenin was not associated with PAD Fontaine stages or with patient ankle-brachial index in addition to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.89-1.34]) or cardiovascular morality (HR = 1.05 [0.82-1.35]). These results suggest that angiogenin does not provide further information regarding outcome prediction in patients with PAD.

Download Full-text

Social inequality in parent–infant relations: Epidemiological study of community nurse records

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494820983137 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 140349482098313

Author(s):

Bjørn E. Holstein ◽

Sofie Weber Pant ◽

Janni Ammitzbøll ◽

Trine Pagh Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Community Sample ◽

Occupational Status ◽

Home Visits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Immigrant Parents ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Parents And Children ◽

First Year Of Life

Background: Some studies suggest that favourable socioeconomic circumstances are associated with better parent–child relations but the documentation of such an association is limited and inconsistent. Few studies focused on infancy, few studies relied on objective measurement of parent–infant relations, and few studies included more than one measurement of parent–infant relations in the first year of life. Aims: To report the prevalence of objectively measured problems in parent–infant relations during the first year of life and to examine the association between socioeconomic circumstances and parent–infant relations in an unselected community sample of infants. Methods: Cross-sectional study of a community sample of children from birth to 10 months in 15 municipalities in Denmark, n = 11,765. The exposure variables were population register data about socioeconomic circumstances: (a) parents’ education, (b) family composition, (c) parents’ origin, and (d) parents’ occupational status. The outcome variable was the health visitor’s concerns about the parent–infant relation assessed at four home visits from birth to 10 months after delivery. Results: The proportion of children with concerns about the parent–infant relation was 10.5%, 7.8% at one home visit and 2.8% at two or more home visits. Logistic regression analyses showed that all four indicators of socioeconomic circumstances were associated with concerns about the parent–infant relation in the first year of life. Conclusions: The risk of problematic parent–infant relations were significantly elevated among, children of immigrant parents, and children of parents with shorter education and not in education or work.

Download Full-text