Cognitive profile, neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

We aimed to characterize the cognitive profile of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) patients with cognitive complaints, exploring the influence of biological and psychological factors. Participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and cognitive complaints ≥ 8 weeks post-acute phase were included. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery (NPS) and health questionnaires were administered at inclusion and at 1, 3 and 6 months. Blood samples were collected at each visit, MRI scan at baseline and at 6 months, and, optionally, cerebrospinal fluid. Cognitive features were analyzed in relation to clinical, neuroimaging, and biochemical markers at inclusion and follow-up. Forty-nine participants, with a mean time from symptom onset of 10.4 months, showed attention-executive function (69%) and verbal memory (39%) impairment. Apathy (64%), moderate-severe anxiety (57%), and severe fatigue (35%) were prevalent. Visual memory (8%) correlated with total gray matter (GM) and subcortical GM volume. Neuronal damage and inflammation markers were within normal limits. Over time, cognitive test scores, depression, apathy, anxiety scores, MRI indexes, and fluid biomarkers remained stable, although fewer participants (50% vs. 75.5%; p = 0.012) exhibited abnormal cognitive evaluations at follow-up. Altered attention/executive and verbal memory, common in PACS, persisted in most subjects without association with structural abnormalities, elevated cytokines, or neuronal damage markers.

Identification of a new HLA-DRB1 allele, HLA-DRB1*04:361.

A novel HLA-DRB1*04 allele, officially designated HLA-DRB1*04:361, was identified by next-generation sequencing.

Algorithm to improve the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with SOX1 antibodies.

SOX1 antibodies (SOX1-abs) are associated with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In many clinical laboratories SOX1-abs are determined by commercial line blots without confirmation by cell-based assay (CBA) with HEK293 cells expressing SOX1. However, the diagnostic yield of commercial line blots is low and the accessibility to the CBA, that is not commercially available, limited. Here, we evaluated if the addition of the band intensity data of the line blot and the immunoreactivity in a tissue-based assay (TBA) improve the diagnostic performance of the line blot. We examined serum of 34 consecutive patients with adequate clinical information that tested positive for SOX1-abs in a commercial line blot. Samples were also assessed by TBA and CBA. SOX1-abs were confirmed by CBA in 17 (50%) patients, all (100%) had lung cancer (SCLC in 16) and 15/17 (88%) had a PNS. In the remaining 17 patients the CBA was negative and none had PNS associated with lung cancer. TBA was assessable in 30/34 patients and SOX1-abs reactivity was detected in 15/17 (88%) with positive and in 0/13 (0%) with negative CBA. Only 2 (13%) of the 15 TBA-negative patients were CBA-positive. The frequency of TBA-negative but CBA-positive increased from 10% (1/10) when the band intensity of the line blot was weak to 20% (1/5) in patients with a moderate or strong intensity band. Confirmation by CBA should be mandatory for samples (56% in this series) not assessable (4/34; 12%) or negative in the TBA (15/34; 44%).

Identification of a new HLA-B allele, HLA-B*51:371.

A novel HLA-B*51 allele, officially designated HLA-B*51:371, was identified by next-generation sequencing.

Detection of M2-Type Anti-Mitochondrial Autoantibodies against Specific Subunits in the Diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Patients with Discordant Results.

BACKGROUND: M2-type anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies are considered the hallmark of primary biliary cholangitis and are directed mainly against the E2 subunits of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex enzymes (PDC, BCOADC and OGDC). The aim of this study was to determine whether a Dot-blot that includes these E2 subunits separately could confirm the results of methods with non-separated subunits in patients with low positive or discordant results between techniques. METHODS: Sera of 24 patients with low positive or discordant results and of 10 patients with clear positive results by non-separated subunits methods were analyzed by Dot-blot with separated subunits. RESULTS: Autoantibodies against E2 subunits of PDC, BCOADC or OGDC were detected in all patients, except in one case from the low positive or discordant results group, by Dot-blot with separated subunits. CONCLUSIONS: It would be advisable to use methods that include the three E2 subunits, and a Dot-blot with separated subunits could confirm doubtful cases by non-separated assays.

CAR-T after Stem Cell Transplantation in B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders: Are They Really Autologous or Allogenic Cell Therapies?

Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is one of the standard treatments for B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders; however, deep relapses are common after an allo-HSCT, and it is associated with poor prognosis. A successful approach to overcome these relapses is to exploit the body's own immune system with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. These two approaches are potentially combinatorial for treating R/R B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Several clinical trials have described different scenarios in which allo-HSCT and CAR-T are successively combined. Further, for all transplanted patients, assessment of chimerism is important to evaluate the engraftment success. Nonetheless, for those patients who previously received an allo-HSCT there is no monitorization of chimerism before manufacturing CAR T-cells. In this review, we focus on allo-HSCT and CAR-T treatments and the different sources of T-cells for manufacturing CAR T-cells.