Underlying medical conditions and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody titers after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccination: A cross-sectional study.

Patients with underlying medical conditions are at high risk of developing serious symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 than healthy individuals; therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the immune response to vaccination among them to formulate precision and personalized vaccination strategies. However, inconsistent evidence exists regarding whether patients with underlying medical conditions have lower anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody titers. We performed a cross-sectional study enrolling 2762 healthcare workers who received second doses of BNT162b2 vaccination from three medical and research institutes between June and July, 2021. Medical conditions were surveyed by a questionnaire, and spike IgG antibody titers were measured with chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay using serum collected on the median of 62 days after the second vaccination. Multilevel linear regression model was used to estimate geometric mean and ratio of mean (95% confidence interval, CI) for the presence and absence of medical conditions and treatments. Among all participants (median age, 40 years [interquartile range, 30-50]; male proportion, 29.4%), the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer was 7.5%, 2.3%, 3.8%, 1.8%, and 1.3%, respectively. Patients with treated hypertension had lower antibody titers than those without hypertension; the multivariable-adjusted ratio of mean (95% CI) was 0.86 (0.76-0.98). Patients with untreated and treated diabetes had lower antibody titers than those without diabetes; the multivariable-adjusted ratio of mean (95% CI) was 0.63 (0.42-0.95) and 0.77 (0.63-0.95), respectively. No substantial difference was observed between the presence or absence of chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Patients with untreated hypertension and patients with untreated and treated diabetes had lower spike IgG antibody titers than participants without those medical conditions, suggesting that continuous monitoring of antibody titers and further booster shots could be necessary to maintain adaptive immunity in patients with hypertension or diabetes.

Use of heated tobacco products, moderate alcohol drinking, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers after BNT162b2 vaccination among Japanese healthcare workers.

The effect of heated tobacco products (HTPs) use and moderate alcohol drinking on immunogenicity to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines remain elusive. This study aimed to examine the association of tobacco product use and alcohol consumption with anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody titers after the BNT162b2 vaccine. Participants were 3433 healthcare workers receiving two vaccine doses in the 4 national centers for advanced medical and research in Japan. Smoking status and alcohol consumption were assessed via a questionnaire, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titers were measured with chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay using serum collected on the median of 64 days after the second vaccination. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the geometric mean titers (GMT) and the ratios of means (RoM) between groups with adjustment for covariates. Compared with never-smokers (GMT = 118), IgG antibody titers were significantly lower among HTPs users (including those who also smoked cigarettes) (GMT = 105; RoM = 0.89 [95%CI: 0.78-0.99]) and exclusive cigarettes smokers (GMT = 98; RoM = 0.81 [95%CI: 0.71-0.92]). Compared with non-drinkers of alcohol (GMT = 123), alcohol drinkers consuming <1 go/day (GMT = 113; RoM = 0.93 [95%CI: 0.88-0.98]), 1-1.9 go/day (GMT = 104; RoM = 0.85 [95%CI: 0.78-0.93]), and ≥ 2 go/day (GMT = 103; RoM = 0.84 [95%CI: 0.74-0.96]) had significantly lower antibody titers (P for trend<0.01). Spline analysis showed a large reduction of antibody until around 1 go/day of alcohol consumption, and then they gradually decreased. Results suggest that in addition to conventional cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol drinking, HTPs use and moderate alcohol drinking may be predictors of lower immunological response to COVID-19 vaccine.

Tacrolimus treatment for infertility related to maternal-fetal immune interactions.

Many approaches have been used to achieve successful pregnancies in patients with infertility, though existing treatments remain unsatisfactory in patients with infertility caused by abnormal maternal-fetal immunity. However, our understanding of the immunological aspects of infertility has steadily progressed, aided by recent research into organ transplantation and cancer. The results of these recent analyses have led to the development and evaluation of several candidate immunological treatments, but the use of immunological treatments remains a novel approach. The current paper presents the hypothesis that tacrolimus may have potential as a candidate agent for the treatment of maternal-fetal immunity-related infertility.

Measurement of oxidative stress in the follicular fluid of infertility patients with an endometrioma.

PURPOSE: Follicular fluid (FF) might reflect the environment during follicle and oocyte growth, and an evaluation of oxidative stress in the FF might be useful in predicting oocyte quality. In order to measure the oxidative stress (OS) in the FF from a single follicle of patients with endometrioma (EM), we evaluated whether an EM might affect the environment of follicular growth. METHODS: Between December 2011 and July 2013, 26 patients with a unilateral EM (EM group) and 29 without EM (control group) were enrolled in this study. The FF was obtained during the first puncture of follicular aspiration, and was stored at -30 °C until it was assayed. A Free Radical Elective Evaluator (WISMERLL, USA) was used to perform d-ROM and BAP tests to measure oxidative stress (U.CARR) and antioxidant power (µmol/L). RESULTS: The d-ROM values in the EMC and control groups were 328.7 ± 97.8 and 414.9 ± 84.2, respectively, and the BAP values for the two groups were 2474.3 ± 432.0 and 2552.8 ± 435.58, respectively. These values were similar between the two groups (mean ± SD). The number of patients with a modified BAP/d-ROM ratio of <1.0 in the EM group was similar to that for the control group at 16 and 15, respectively (61.5 and 51.7 %). CONCLUSIONS: The oxidative stress and antioxidant potential in the FF of the patients with unilateral EM showed values similar to those without an EM. Therefore, we concluded that EMs do not affect the environment for follicle growth during ART treatment.

Successful completion of pregnancy in a woman with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) used to be a fatal illness of childhood and patients rarely survived past the first decade. Although antimicrobial prophylaxis has dramatically reduced mortality and morbidity in recent years, CGD remains a life-threatening condition. We present the successful obstetric course of a patient with CGD.

A novel CD4-conjugated ultraviolet light-activated photocatalyst inactivates HIV-1 and SIV efficiently.

In this study, we found that the electric potential derived from the redox reaction of ultraviolet (UV)-illuminated CD4-conjugated titanium dioxide (TiO2) inactivated a wide range of high-titered primary HIV-1 isolates, regardless of virus co-receptor usage or genetic clade. In vitro incubation of HIV-1 isolates with CD4-conjugated TiO2 (CD4-TiO2) followed by UV illumination led to inhibition of viral infectivity in both H9 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as to the complete inactivation of plasma virions from HIV-1-infected individuals. Treatment with a newly established extra-corporeal circulation system with the photocatalyst in rhesus macaques completely inactivated plasma virus in the system and effectively reduced the infectious plasma viral load. Furthermore, plasma viremia and infectious viral loads were controlled following a second therapeutic photocatalyst treatment during primary SIV(mac239) infection of macaques. Our findings suggest that this therapeutic immunophysical strategy may help control human immunodeficiency viral infection in vivo.

Bacteria-associated haemophagocytic syndrome and septic pulmonary embolism caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex in a woman with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections with certain types of bacteria and fungi. Presented herein is the case of a 29 year old woman with CGD who suffered from bacteria-associated haemophagocytic syndrome and a septic pulmonary embolism following a uterine infection and sepsis, caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex.

An acromegalic woman first diagnosed in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Reports of pregnancy in acromegalic women are uncommon, numbering less than 100, in which a case of acromegaly first diagnosed in pregnancy is rare. CASE: A 40-year-old woman in 19-week gestation was presented with a 10-week history of photophobia and visual disturbance. Elevated growth hormone (GH) levels in the serum, an inadequate suppression of GH secretion with glucose administration and a mass image in the pituitary fossa confirmed the diagnosis of acromegaly. We initiated dopamine agonist treatment, bromocriptine at a weekly dose of 1 mg at 27-week gestation. Ten weeks after the start of the bromocriptine treatment, the GH levels gradually decreased to a normal range, and visual symptoms were improved. Enlargement of the tumor was not observed throughout the pregnancy and the patient delivered a healthy infant following an eventful pregnancy. At 3 weeks after delivery, she underwent a transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary adenoma. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy may lead to pituitary tumor growth and increase the risk of developing loss of vision. It is important to take pituitary tumors into consideration when encountering gravida with visual disturbance.

Herpes simplex virus 2-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a pregnant patient.

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled phagocytosis of normal hemopoietic cells by activated histiocytes in bone marrow is collectively referred to as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. CASE: We present a case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with herpes simplex virus-2 infection in the second trimester. Cytopenia, elevated C-reactive protein, ferritin, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and interleukin-6 with high-grade fever were observed following genital herpes infection, and the existence of hemophagocytes in bone marrow confirmed the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Corticosteroid therapy failed to arrest the hemophagocytic process, whereas cyclosporin A was effective. The patient delivered a healthy infant after remission and has not experienced exacerbation. CONCLUSION: It is often important to take into consideration hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis when encountering cytopenia with high-grade fever. Cyclosporin A was a safe and available strategy for this corticosteroid-resistant case.

Inhibitory effect of catechin against the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB).

Staphylococcal superantigens (SsAgs) have gained attention as one of the factors aggravating atopic dermatitis (AD) and several potential mechanisms of AD aggravation by SsAgs have been reported. Tea catechin has been found to have many unique antimicrobiological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antitoxic effects. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of the green tea catechin extract, Polyphenon, and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) on staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and its mechanisms of action, and we also discuss the possibility of therapeutic benefits for AD patients of tea catechin. Polyphenon inhibited the lethal toxicity of SEB and the SEB-induced production of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-4 following its intraperitoneal administration to BALB/c mice. Although Polyphenon is composed of several isomers among which EGCg is approximately 50% of the total, we considered that most of the inhibitory effect of Polyphenon in mice could be attributed to EGCg. EGCg was immediately bound to SEB molecules and neutralized SEB in a dose- and incubation time-dependent manner without molecular weight alteration of the SEB molecule. Furthermore, EGCg inhibited SEB-induced TNF-alpha and IFN- gamma production and IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-10 and IL-12 p40 mRNA expression in human PBMCs from normal donors in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of SsAg-induced T-cell activation by catechin was observed in both in vivo and in vitro studies, suggesting that catechin may be useful in the treatment of AD.

Inhibitory effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), the major tea catechin, is known as a potent anti-bacterial agent. In addition, anti-tumor promoting, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and antiviral activities have been reported. In the present study, we investigated possible anti-human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) activity of EGCg and its mechanisms of action in the viral life cycle. EGCg impinges on each step of the HIV life cycle. Thus, destruction of the viral particles, viral attachment to cells, post-adsorption entry into cells, reverse transcription (RT), viral production from chronically-infected cells, and the level of expression of viral mRNA, were analyzed using T-lymphoid (H9) and monocytoid (THP-1) cell systems, and antiviral protease activity was measured using a cell-free assay. Inhibitory effects of EGCg on specific binding of the virions to the cellular surfaces and changes in the steady state viral regulation (mRNA expression) due to EGCg were not observed. However, EGCg had a destructive effect on the viral particles, and post-adsorption entry and RT in acutely infected monocytoid cells were significantly inhibited at concentrations of EGCg greater than 1 microM, and protease kinetics were suppressed at a concentration higher than 10 microM in the cell-free study. Viral production by THP-1 cells chronically-infected with HIV-1 was also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner and the inhibitory effect was enhanced by liposome modification of EGCg. As expected, increased viral mRNA production was observed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated chronically HIV-1-infected cells. This production was significantly inhibited by EGCg treatment of THP-1 cells. In contrast, production of HIV-1 viral mRNA in unstimulated or LPS-stimulated T-lymphoid cells (H9) was not inhibited by EGCg. Anti-HIV viral activity of EGCg may thus result from an interaction with several steps in the HIV-1 life cycle.