With the spread of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is a need to assess the protection conferred by both previous infections and current ...vaccination. Here we tested the neutralizing activity of infected and/or vaccinated individuals against pseudoviruses expressing the spike of the original SARS-CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 (WH1), the D614G mutant and the B.1.1.7 variant. Our data show that parameters of natural infection (time from infection and nature of the infecting variant) determined cross-neutralization. Uninfected vaccinees showed a small reduction in neutralization against the B.1.1.7 variant compared to both the WH1 strain and the D614G mutant. Interestingly, upon vaccination, previously infected individuals developed more robust neutralizing responses against B.1.1.7, suggesting that vaccines can boost the neutralization breadth conferred by natural infection.
This study analyzed the efficacy of tailored recommendations to control cardiovascular risk factors at 1-year follow-up in a population-based randomized controlled trial in individuals aged ...35–74 years with no history of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was the quantitative change in total cholesterol. To estimate the differences within and between groups, McNemar and Student t-tests were applied according to an intention-to-treat strategy. We enrolled 955 individuals 52.3% women; mean age, 50 years (standard deviation 10). Finally, 1 participant in each group presented a cardiovascular event and 768 were reexamined at 1-year follow-up. Intervention and control groups showed significant increases in total cholesterol 5.49 (standard deviation 1.02) to 5.56 (1.06) mmol/L and 5.34 (0.94) to 5.43 (0.93) mmol/L, respectively. Men in the intervention group showed significant decreases in systolic and diastolic BP 117.2 (14.6) to 115.6 mmHg (14.1) and 77.9 (9.7) to 76.5 mmHg (9.7), respectively; no changes were found in the rates of total cholesterol <5.2 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol <3.0 mmol/L. In the control group, both values were significantly decreased (43.5 to 36.4% and 26.4 to 20.8%, respectively) in men. In the stratified analysis, women showed no differences in any of the outcomes. In conclusion, an intervention with tailored recommendations increased mean total cholesterol values. The intervention effect was higher in men who maintained blood lipids at optimal levels and had decreased BP values.
•Tailored recommendations increased mean total cholesterol values.•Blood lipids in men in the intervention group remained at optimal levels.•Men in the intervention group decreased blood pressure levels.•Women did not experience changes in the follow-up.•This strategy encourages personal empowerment and increases self-awareness.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or neuroimaging biomarkers. Currently, non-invasive and inexpensive blood-based ...biomarkers are being investigated, such as neuronal-derived plasma exosomes (NPEs). Neuroinflammation and early vascular changes have been described in AD pathogenesis and can be traced in plasma and NPEs. However, they have not been studied in early onset MCI (EOMCI).
To describe the rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the participants from the BIOFACE cohort, a two-year observational study on EOMCI conducted at Fundació ACE. The study goal is to characterize the different phenotypes from a clinical, neuropsychological, and biomarker point of view and to investigate the CSF and plasma proteomics as well as the role of NPEs as early biomarkers of AD.
Participants underwent extended neurological and neuropsychological batteries, multimodal biomarkers including brain MRI, blood, saliva, CSF, anthropometric, and neuro-ophthalmological examinations.
Ninety-seven patients with EOMCI were recruited. 59.8%were women. Mean age at symptom onset was 57 years; mean MMSE was 28. First degree and presenile family history of dementia was present in 60.8%and 15.5%, respectively. Depressive and anxiety disorders along with vascular risk factors were the most frequent comorbidities. 29%of participants were APOE ɛ4 carriers, and 67%showed a CSF normal ATN profile.
BIOFACE is a two-year study of clinical, cognition, and biomarkers that will shed light on the physiopathology and the potential utility of plasma and NPEs as non-invasive early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in people younger than 65 years.
Abstract
Exposure to certain monochromatic wavelengths can affect non-visual brain regions. Growing research indicates that exposure to light can have a positive impact on health-related problems ...such as spring asthenia, circadian rhythm disruption, and even bipolar disorders and Alzheimer’s. However, the extent and location of changes in brain areas caused by exposure to monochromatic light remain largely unknown. This pilot study (N = 7) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance shows light-dependent functional connectivity patterns on brain networks. We demonstrated that 1 min of blue, green, or red light exposure modifies the functional connectivity (FC) of a broad range of visual and non-visual brain regions. Largely, we observed: (i) a global decrease in FC in all the networks but the salience network after blue light exposure, (ii) a global increase in FC after green light exposure, particularly noticeable in the left hemisphere, and (iii) a decrease in FC on attentional networks coupled with a FC increase in the default mode network after red light exposure. Each one of the FC patterns appears to be best arranged to perform better on tasks associated with specific cognitive domains. Results can be relevant for future research on the impact of light stimulation on brain function and in a variety of health disciplines.
AsES (
Acremonium strictum
Elicitor Subtilisin) is a fungal subtilase that induces a defense response in
Arabidopsis thaliana
and in many commercial crops. Recently, we demonstrated that AsES is also ...able to accelerate ripening in a climacteric fruit like avocado by regulating the ethylene signaling pathway. The aim of the present work was to investigate AsES effect on the maturation and postharvest quality of a non-climacteric fruit like strawberry. The involvement of ethylene was evaluated using the ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Results obtained showed that fruit treated with AsES induced ethylene synthesis, weight loss, color change, soluble solids content and titratable acidity, but did not affect the respiration rate. Experiments were carried out using fruit at different ripening stages e.g. white, pink and red fruit. However, when using 1-MCP, the endogenous production of ethylene and the respiration rate increased strongly in white fruit, without changing the other ripening parameters. Also, treatment of red fruit with AsES alone prevents the development of gray mold disease caused by
B. cinerea
, improving postharvest quality. However, the fruit protection achieved by AsES is prevented when ethylene perception is inhibited with 1-MCP. The AsES elicitor induces ethylene biosynthesis and regulates physiological ripening parameters in strawberry fruit; however it does not affect the respiration rate. Results obtained indicate that active ethylene receptors are necessary to activate an AsES-induced defense response against gray mold disease, and to control its biosynthesis.
Visual impairment is common in people living with dementia and regular ophthalmological exams may improve their quality of life. We evaluated visual function in a cohort of elderly individuals and ...analyzed its association with their degree of cognitive impairment. Participants underwent neurological and neuropsychological exams, neuro-ophthalmological assessment (visual acuity, intraocular pressure, rates of past ophthalmological pathologies, use of ocular correction, treatments and surgeries) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. We analyzed differences in ophthalmological characteristics among diagnostic groups. The final sample of 1746 study participants aged ≥ 50 comprised 229 individuals with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), 695 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 833 with Dementia (Alzheimer disease: n = 660; vascular dementia: n = 92, Lewy body dementia: n = 34; frontotemporal dementia: n = 19 and other: n = 28). Age, gender and education were used as covariates. Patients with Dementia, compared to those with SCD and MCI, presented worse visual acuity (p < 0.001), used less visual correction (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively) and fewer ophthalmological treatments (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively) and underwent fewer ocular surgeries (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). OCT image quality worsened in parallel to cognitive decline (Dementia vs SCD: p = 0.008; Dementia vs MCI: p < 0.001). No group differences in past ophthalmological disorders or abnormal OCT findings were detected. Efforts should be made to ensure dementia patients undergo regular ophthalmological assessments to correct their visual function in order to improve their quality of life.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic with dramatic health and socioeconomic consequences. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges ...health systems to quickly respond by developing new diagnostic strategies that contribute to identify infected individuals, monitor infections, perform contact-tracing, and limit the spread of the virus. In this brief report, we developed a highly sensitive, specific, and precise “
In-House
” ELISA to correctly discriminate previously SARS-CoV-2-infected and non-infected individuals and study population seroprevalence. Among 758 individuals evaluated for anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology in the province of Tucumán, Argentina, we found a weak correlation between antibodies elicited against the RBD, the receptor-binding domain of the Spike protein, and the nucleocapsid (N) antigens of this virus. Additionally, we detected mild levels of anti-RBD IgG antibodies in 33.6% of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, while only 19% showed sufficient antibody titers to be considered as plasma donors. No differences in IgG anti-RBD titers were found between women and men, neither in between different age groups ranging from 18 to 60. Surprisingly, individuals from a high altitude village displayed elevated and longer lasting anti-RBD titers compared to those from a lower altitude city. To our knowledge, this is the first report correlating altitude with increased humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Introduction:
Penicillin allergy labels (PAL) are common in the hospital setting and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Desensitization can be a useful strategy for allergic patients when ...alternative options are suboptimal or not available. The aim was to compare clinical outcomes of patients with PAL managed with antibiotic desensitization vs. those who received alternative non-beta-lactam antibiotic treatments.
Methods:
A retrospective 3:1 case-control study was performed between 2015–2022. Cases were adult PAL patients with infection who required antibiotic desensitization; controls were PAL patients with infection managed with an alternative antibiotic treatment. Cases and controls were adjusted for age, sex, infection source, and critical or non-critical medical services.
Results:
Fifty-six patients were included: 14 in the desensitization group, 42 in the control group. Compared to the control group, desensitized PAL patients had more comorbidities, with a higher Charlson index (7.4 vs. 5;
p
= 0.00) and more infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens (57.1% vs. 28.6%;
p
= 0.05). Thirty-day mortality was 14.3% in the desensitized group, 28.6% in the control group (
p
= 0.24). Clinical cure occurred in 71.4% cases and 54.8% controls (
p
= 0.22). Four control patients selected for MDR strains after alternative treatment; selection of MDR strains did not occur in desensitized patients. Five controls had antibiotic-related adverse events, including
Clostridioides difficile
or nephrotoxicity. No antibiotic-related adverse events were found in the study group. In multivariate analysis, no differences between groups were observed for main variables.
Conclusion:
Desensitization was not associated with worse clinical outcomes, despite more severe patients in this group. Our study suggests that antibiotic desensitization may be a useful Antimicrobial Stewardship tool for the management of selected PAL patients.
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