Associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with social well-being indicators in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Public health measures for COVID-19 containment have implied economic and social life disruptions, which have been particularly deleterious in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) due to high rates of informal employment, overcrowding, and barriers to accessing health services, amongst others social determinants. Mexico, a LMIC, is a country with a high COVID-19 mortality in which there has been a very limited governmental response to help mitigate such COVID-related disruptions. This study analyzes the association of the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis in Mexico with four well-being indicators: income, employment, anxiety, and food security. METHODS: It uses pooled cross-sectional data (n = 5453) of five monthly nationally representative surveys collected between April and August 2020. Probit models are estimated to assess the association of the pandemic with job loss and anxiety; a multinomial logistic regression is estimated for food security, and an ordinary least squares regression assesses the association between the pandemic and changes in household's income. RESULTS: Females were significantly associated with worse outcomes for the 4 well-being measures with an average reduction of 2.3% in household income compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, an increased probability (6.4 pp) of being in a household that had lost jobs, decreased probability of food security (6.9 pp), and an increased risk of anxiety symptoms (8.5 pp). In addition, those with lower SES and household with children also reported worse outcomes for employment, income and food security. The month variable was also statistically significant in these models suggesting that as more months of the pandemic elapsed the effects persisted. CONCLUSION: The currents study documents how the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with different well-being indicators in a LMIC. It suggests the urgent need to take actions to support vulnerable groups, particularly women, households with children and those in the lowest SES. If policy actions are not taken, the pandemic will increase social and gender disparities, and will jeopardize childhood development.

Breastfeeding media coverage and beliefs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico: implications for breastfeeding equity.

BACKGROUND: Because breastfeeding offers short- and long- term health benefits to mothers and children, breastfeeding promotion and support is a public health priority. Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not likely to be transmitted via breastmilk. Moreover, antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are thought to be contained in breastmilk of mothers with history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination. WHO recommends direct breastfeeding as the preferred infant feeding option during the COVID-19 pandemic, even among women with COVID-19; but conflicting practices have been adopted, which could widen existing inequities in breastfeeding. This study aims to describe how information about breastfeeding was communicated in Mexican media during the pandemic and assess Mexican adults' beliefs regarding breastfeeding among mothers infected with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective content analysis of media coverage on breastfeeding in Mexico between March 1 and September 24, 2020, excluding advertisements. For the content analysis, we performed both a sentiment analysis and an analysis based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for breastfeeding promotion. Additionally, we conducted a descriptive analysis of nationally representative data on adults' beliefs about breastfeeding from the July 2020 round of the ENCOVID-19 survey in Mexico and stratified the results by gender, age, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: A total of 1014 publications on breastfeeding were identified on the internet and television and in newspapers and magazines. Most information was published during World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated in August. The sentiment analysis showed that 57.2% of all information was classified as positive. The SWOT analysis indicated that most information focused on current actions, messages, policies, or programs that enable breastfeeding (i.e., strengths) or those not currently in place but that may enable breastfeeding (i.e., opportunities) for breastfeeding promotion. However, ENCOVID-19 survey results showed that 67.3% of adults living in households with children under 3 years of age believe that mothers with COVID-19 should not breastfeed, and 19.8% do not know whether these mothers should breastfeed. These beliefs showed differences both by gender and by socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: While the Mexican government endorsed the recommendation on breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, communication was sporadic, inconstant and unequal across types of media. There was a widespread notion that mothers with COVID-19 should not breastfeed and due to differences on beliefs by socioeconomic status, health inequities could be exacerbated by increasing the risk of poorer breastfeeding practices and preventing vulnerable groups from reaping the short and long-term benefits of breastfeeding.

Balanced secretion of anti-CEA × anti-CD3 diabody chains using the 2A self-cleaving peptide maximizes diabody assembly and tumor-specific cytotoxicity.

Adoptive transfer of genetically engineered human cells secreting bispecific T-cell engagers has shown encouraging therapeutic effects in preclinical models of cancer. However, reducing the toxicity and improving the effectiveness of this emerging immunotherapeutic strategy will be critical to its successful application. We have demonstrated that for gene-based bispecific antibody strategies, two-chain diabodies have a better safety profile than single-chain tandem scFvs (single-chain variable fragments), because their reduced tendency to form aggregates reduces the risk of inducing antigen-independent T-cell activation. Here, we demonstrate that the incorporation of a 2A self-processing peptide derived from foot-and-mouth disease virus conveying co-translational cleavage into a two-chain anti-CD3 × anti-CEA diabody gene enables near-equimolar expression of diabody chains 1 and 2, and thus increases the final amount of assembled diabody. This was found to maximize diabody-mediated T-cell activation and cytotoxicity against carcinoembryonic antigen-positive tumor cells.

Analysis of exosome release and its prognostic value in human colorectal cancer.

A significant proportion of extracellular nucleic acids in plasma circulate highly protected in tumor-specific exosomes, but it is unclear how the release of exosomes is modulated in carcinogenesis. We quantified by cytometry exosomes in plasma of 91 colorectal cancer patients to evaluate their potential as a tumor indicator and their repercussions on diagnosis and prognosis. We examined the involvement of TSAP6, a TP53-regulated gene involved in the regulation of vesicular secretion, in levels of circulating exosomes in plasma of colorectal patients and in HCT116 TP53-(wild-type and null) human colorectal cancer cell lines. The fraction of exosomes in cancer patients was statistically higher than in healthy controls (mean rank » 53.93 vs. 24.35). High levels of exosomes in plasma of patients correlated with high levels of carcino-embryonic antigen (P » 0.029) and with poorly differentiated tumors (P » 0.039) and tended to have shorter overall survival than patients with low levels (P » 0.056). Release of exosomes did not correlate with TSAP6 expression; and regulation of TSAP6 by TP53 was not shown either in tumor samples or in HCT116 cell lines. Although it was not suggested that the TP53/TSAP6 pathway regulates the release of exosomes into the plasma of colorectal cancer patients, the level of circulating exosomes may be used as a tumor indicator, because it correlates with poor prognosis parameters and shorter survival.

Non-hematopoietic stem cells as factories for in vivo therapeutic protein production.

As an alternative to recombinant protein administration, ex vivo gene-modified cells may provide a novel strategy for systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins. This approach has been used in preclinical and clinical studies of a plethora of pathological conditions, including anemia, hemophilia and cancer for the production of erythropoietin, coagulation factors, immunostimulatory cytokines, recombinant antibodies and angiogenesis inhibitors. Cell delivery vehicles may also be varied: autologous or allogeneic, precursor or terminally differentiated cells, with targeting properties or immobilized in immunoprotective devices. This field did not meet the expectation raised initially, mainly because of difficulties with obtaining therapeutic plasma levels and the short lifespan of producer cells that hampered clinical application. Different non-hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells have emerged as potential delivery vehicles, since they are easy to obtain, expand and transduce, and they exhibit prolonged lifespans (with mesenchymal stem cells probably being the most popular cell type, but not the only one). Special emphasis is placed on the different routes used to deliver these cellular vehicles and the controversies about their targeting abilities.

Factory neovessels: engineered human blood vessels secreting therapeutic proteins as a new drug delivery system.

Several works have shown the feasibility of engineering functional blood vessels in vivo using human endothelial cells (ECs). Going further, we explored the therapeutic potential of neovessels after gene-modifying the ECs for the secretion of a therapeutic protein. Given that these vessels are connected with the host vascular bed, we hypothesized that systemic release of the expressed protein is immediate. As a proof of principle, we used primary human ECs transduced with a lentiviral vector for the expression of a recombinant bispecific alphaCEA/alphaCD3 antibody. These ECs, along with mesenchymal stem cells as a source of mural cells, were embedded in Matrigel and subcutaneously implanted in nude mice. High antibody levels were detected in plasma for 1 month. Furthermore, the antibody exerted a therapeutic effect in mice bearing distant carcinoembryonic-antigen (CEA)-positive tumors after inoculation of human T cells. In summary, we show for the first time the therapeutic effect of a protein locally secreted by engineered human neovessels.

[Long-term evaluation of immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in 136 patients undergoing hemodialysis]. / Evaluación a largo plazo de la respuesta inmunológica a la vacuna de la hepatitis B en 136 pacientes en hemodiálisis.

UNLABELLED: Hemodialysis (HD) patients have an impaired response to hepatitis B(HB) vaccines, and the persistence of immunity, the efficacy of revaccination and the periodicity of post-vaccination testing are not well defined. We present the experience during 13 years in an outpatient dialysis center of 136 HD patients who completed a HB vaccination program consisting in 3 doses of 40 microg intramuscular recombinant B vaccine (Engerix-B). In all patients anti-HBs titers were determined annually and in 31 patients every 6 months. Nonresponders patients and responders patients that lost their antibodies(< 10 UI/ml) received annually a booster double dose of vaccine. Seventy-four patients(54.4%) developed immunity and the remaining 62 patients were considered nonresponders. When compared both groups, gender and the etiology of chronic kidney disease did not differ between the two groups; nevertheless, nonresponders patients were significantly older than responders. After 1 year of follow-up, 32% of responders had no detectable anti-HBs levels, and only 18% of patients remained immunoreactive 6 years afer vaccination. The peak anti-HBs titer immediately after completion of the vaccination schedule was found to be a major predictor of maintaining immunity: 75% of patients with anti-HBs titers greater than 1000 IU/ml remained immunoreactive 3 years after vaccination compared to 47% of patients with titers between 100-999 IU/ml(p=0.08) and 34% of patients with titers between 11-99 IU/ml(p=0.02). The administration of additional doses of vaccine were effective in 24% of the nonresponders patients, and 69% of them remained seropositive at the end of the 1-year follow up. Repeated booster doses of vaccine in nonresponders patients to the first booster dose afforded seroconversion in 19.6% of the patients. Performing post-vaccination testing every six months it would have allowed to give booster doses of vaccine in 16% of responder patients before the annual period. CONCLUSION: This current study demonstrates that a HB vaccination schedule with a regular serological follow-up and repeated booster doses , affords an acceptable seroprotection in HD patients.

Inhibition of tumor growth in vivo by in situ secretion of bispecific anti-CEA x anti-CD3 diabodies from lentivirally transduced human lymphocytes.

Infiltrating T lymphocytes are found in many malignancies, but they appear to be mostly anergic and do not attack the tumor, presumably because of defective T-cell activation events. Recently, we described a strategy for the tumor-specific polyclonal activation of tumor-resident T lymphocytes based on the in situ production of recombinant bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) by transfected nonhematological cell lines. Here, we have constructed a novel HIV-1-based lentiviral vector for efficient gene transduction into various human hematopoietic cell types. Several myelomonocytic and lymphocytic cell lines secreted the anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) x anti-CD3 diabody in a functionally active form with CD3(+) T-cell lines being the most efficient secretors. Furthermore, primary human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were also efficiently transduced and secreted high levels of functional diabody. Importantly gene-modified PBLs significantly reduced in vivo tumor growth rates in xenograft studies. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the utility of lentiviral vectors for sustained expression of recombinant bsAbs in human T lymphocytes. Such T lymphocytes, transduced ex vivo to secrete the activating diabody in autocrine fashion, may provide a promising route for a gene therapy strategy for solid human tumors.

Safety and efficacy of allogeneic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of dogs with inflammatory bowel disease: Endoscopic and histological outcomes.

Systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to be safe and efficacious in humans with Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of an intravenous (IV) infusion of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and to assess macroscopic and histological effects in the digestive tract of dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Eleven dogs with confirmed IBD received a single ASC infusion (2 × 10(6) cells/kg bodyweight). Full digestive endoscopic evaluation was performed pre-treatment and between 90 and 120 days post-treatment with mucosal changes being assessed using a fit-for-purpose endoscopic scale. Endoscopic biopsies from each digestive section were evaluated histologically according to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Gastrointestinal Standardization Group criteria. The pre- and post-treatment canine IBD endoscopic index (CIBDEI) and histological score (HS) were calculated and compared using the Wilcoxon test. Remission was defined as a reduction of >75% of the CIBDEI and HS compared with pre-treatment. No acute reactions to ASC infusion or side effects were reported in any dog. Significant differences between pre- and post-treatment were found in both the CIBDEI (P = 0.004) and HS (P = 0.004). Endoscopic remission occurred in 4/11 dogs with the remaining dogs showing decreased CIBDEI (44.8% to 73.3%). Histological remission was not achieved in any dog, with an average reduction of the pre-treatment HS of 27.2%. In conclusion, a single IV infusion of allogeneic ASCs improved gastrointestinal lesions as assessed macroscopically and slightly reduced gastrointestinal inflammation as evaluated by histopathology in dogs with IBD.

Erythrocyte sodium transport, intraplatelet pH, and calcium concentration in salt-sensitive hypertension.

We evaluated changes in erythrocyte sodium transport systems, platelet pH, and calcium concentration induced by low and high salt intakes in a group of 50 essential hypertensive patients classified on the basis of their salt sensitivity. Patients received a standard diet with 20 mmol NaCl daily for 2 weeks supplemented in a single-blind fashion by placebo tablets the first 7 days and NaCl tablets the following 7 days. Salt sensitivity, defined as a significant rise (P <.05) in 24-hour mean blood pressure obtained by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, was diagnosed in 22 (44%) patients. The remaining 28 (56%) were considered to have salt-resistant hypertension. In the entire group of hypertensive patients, high salt intake promoted a significant increase (P <.05) in the maximal rate of erythrocyte NA(+)-Li(+) countertransport (from 271 +/- 19 to 327 +/- 18 microM/(L cells/h) and of the Na(+)-dependent HCO3(-)-CL(-) exchanger (from 946 +/- 58 to 1237 +/- 92 microM/L cells/h) as well as in platelet pH (from 7.15+/-0 0.01 to 7.19+/-0.02 and calcium concentration (from 49+/-2 to 57 +/-2 nmol/L). Depending on salt sensitivity, high salt intake promoted opposing changes in some of the sodium transport systems studied. Salt-sensitive patients increased the maximal rate of the erythrocyte Na(+)-K(+) pump (fom 7.0 +/- 0.4 to 8.8 +/- 0.4 mmol/(L cells/h), Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport (from 416 +/- 37 to 612 +/- 41 micromol/(L cells/h), Na(+)-Li(+) countertransport (from 248 +/- 20 to 389 +/- 17 micromol/(L cells/h) at the end of the high salt period. Conversely, salt-resistant patients decreased the Na(+)-K(+) pump (from 8.0 +/- 0.4 to 6.9 +/- 0.3 mmol/(L cells/h) and Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport (from 578 +/- 53 to 481 +/- 43 micromol/(L cells/h). We conclude that modulation of erythrocyte sodium transport systems by high salt intake depends on salt sensitivity. The Na(+)-K(+) pump, Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport, and Na(+)-Li(+) countertransport increase in salt-sensitive patients, whereas the activity of these sodium transport systems tends to decrease in salt-resistant patients. Independent of salt sensitivity, high salt intake promotes a significant increase in the erythrocyte Na(+)-dependent HCO3(-)-Cl(-) exchanger, platelet pH, and calcium concentration in essential hypertensive patients.

Effect of long-term antihypertensive therapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on red cell sodium transport.

Several sodium transport abnormalities have been reported in erythrocytes from essential hypertensive patients. The possible modification of these parameters under antihypertensive treatment remains controversial. We have measured the maximal rates of the Na+/K+ pump, Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport, and Na+/Li+ countertransport and the rate constant of Na+ leak in erythrocytes from 22 essential hypertensive patient responders to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors quinapril or captopril, and from 17 patient nonresponders to these drugs. In the former group, sodium transport measurements were performed at the baseline placebo period and after 6 months of active treatment. The maximal rate of Na+/Li+ countertransport decreased significantly after 6 months of treatment, without differences between both groups of treatment. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors did not significantly modify other sodium transport parameters. The basal activity of erythrocyte sodium transport was not different between patients who responded or not to antihypertensive treatment with those drugs, excluding a predictive value of these measurements concerning the response to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

[Recurrent episodes of acidosis with encephalopathy in a hemodialysis program patient with short bowel syndrome]. / Episodios recurrentes de acidosis con encefalopatía en un paciente en programa de hemodiálisis con síndrome del intestino corto.

We present a case of a patient with short bowel syndrome in a hemodialysis program, with recurrent episodes of serious acidosis. The presence of a D-lactic acidosis peak secondary to bacterial overgrowth in the intestine was discovered during an acute episode of acidosis, with neurological affection. The detection of acidosis in predialysis measurements and the acute episodes of acidosis, made it necessary to administer bicarbonate to the patient and give him additional hemodialysis sessions.

[Calcium pump changes in patients with essential arterial hypertension]. / Alteraciones de la bomba de calcio en pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial.

BACKGROUND: Transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes are mediated, at least in part, by the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase. Thus, genetic or acquired abnormalities of this pump could explain the increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ content that has been observed in essential hypertensive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a kinetic study of the Ca2+ pump in intact erythrocytes from 49 essential hypertensive patients and 27 normotensive healthy persons. We used Sr2+ as a calcium analogue to measure Ca2+ fluxes dependent of the Ca2+ pump. The intracellular concentrations of Sr2+ and Ca2+ were modified using the A-23187 ionophore in a Ringer isotonic solution. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients showed a significant increase of the maximal efflux rate for Sr2+ (Vmax) with respect to controls (6.6 [2.3] vs 5.2 [1.6] mmol/l cel/h; p = 0.006). Mean values of apparent dissociation constants for intracellular Ca2+ (KCa) were also increased in essential hypertensives (80.36 [53.46] vs 55.25 [15.13] mumol/l cel; p = 0.06). A significant correlation between Vmax and age (r = 0.342; p = 0.016), and serum creatinine (r = 0.446; p = 0.001) was observed. The KCa only correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.402; p = 0.004). Using the KCa confidence interval of 99% as the higher normal limit, patients were segregated into two subgroups depending on normal KCa values (33 patients, 67.3%) or increased KCa values (16 patients, 32.6%). Age (50.8 [13.5] vs 43 [10.2] years; p = 0.02), serum creatinine (1.13 [0.17] vs 0.95 [0.17] mg/dl; p = 0.001) and serum uric acid (7.27 [3.32] vs 6.14 [1.49] mg/dl; p = 0.04) were higher in patients with increased KCa. Finally, patients with increased KCa also showed increased values of Vmax (9.13 [2.02] vs 5.38 [12.81] mmol/l cel/h; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Essential hypertensive patients are heterogeneous regarding ion transport abnormalities, only affecting subgroups of hypertensive patients. We have observed abnormalities of the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase in 33% of essential hypertensive patients. These patients are older and tend to exhibit higher values of serum creatinine and uric acid.

Is the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale an Appropriate Instrument for Mexican Urban Older Adults?

BACKGROUND: Older adults in Mexico are a growing share of the population and are a largely vulnerable group with increased risk of food insecurity and potential detrimental health effects stemming from it. OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the face validity of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) among Mexican urban older adults of low socioeconomic status. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on 4 focus groups. SETTING: The focus groups were conducted in community organizations for the elderly in an area of Mexico City with a high proportion of poverty. PARTICIPANTS: The focus groups included a total of 36 older adults aged 65 and over who consented to participate. MEASUREMENTS: Two initial focus groups were conducted to assess how older adults understood the food security construct and each of the ELCSA items. Based on these findings, ELCSA was modified and retested for face validity through two additional focus groups. RESULTS: The initial focus groups suggested that several of the scale items were not well understood, leading to editorial modifications of the scale. The final focus groups indicated that the modified version of the scale improved substantially ELCSA's face validity in this sample. CONCLUSIONS: The modified ELCSA led to a greater understanding of most scale items. Further qualitative research is needed to improve food insecurity measurements among older adults in Latin America.

Brucellosis: a treatable cause of monoarthritis.

A 16-year-old Mexican-American boy presented with acute brucella sacroileitis. The diagnosis was based on a significantly elevated agglutination titer and confirmed by the growth of B. melitensis after four weeks incubation in blood culture. The patient recovered completely after six weeks of Tetracycline therapy. Because Brucella infection responds to treatment well, this infection is important in the differential diagnosis of arthritis, especially in an area endemic for Brucella. The readily available serologic techniques should be used to support the diagnosis, while recognizing that because of the slow growth rate of B. melitensis, the appropriate laboratory procedure is essential.

Evaluación a largo plazo de la respuesta inmunológica a la vacuna de la hepatitis B en136 pacientes en hemodiálisis / No disponible

La respuesta inmunitaria a la vacuna de la hepatitis B (HB) está impedida en los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD), y la persistencia de la inmunidad, la eficacia de la revacunación y la periodicidad de la realización de controles serológicos no están bien definidas. Presentamos la experiencia de un protocolo de vacunación de la HB con tres dosis intramusculares de 40 μg de vacuna recombinante (Engerix®-B) en un grupo de 136 pacientes atendidos en una unidad de HD a lo largo de 18 años. Se realizaron controles anuales de anticuerpos anti-HB en todos los pacientes, y semestrales en 31; y se administraba anualmente una dosis doble de vacuna a los pacientes que no respondían o cuando los niveles de anticuerpos descendían por debajo de 10 UI/ml. Setenta y cuatro pacientes (54,4%) presentaron seroconversión, mientras que 62 pacientes no respondieron. La edad de los pacientes era superior en el grupo de no respondedores, pero no se observaron diferencias en el sexo ni en la etiología de la enfermedad renal. Un 32% de los pacientes respondedores perdió la memoria inmunológica al primer año de la vacunación, y tan sólo un 18% de los pacientes permaneció inmunizado a los seis años. El título de anticuerpos inmediatamente después de completar la vacunación fue predictor del mantenimiento de la memoria inmunológica: un 75% de los pacientes con títulos de anticuerpos >1.000 UI/ml mantuvo la seroprotección a los tres años en comparación con un 47% con títulos entre 100-999 (p = 0,08), y un 34% con títulos entre 11-99 (p = 0,02). La administración de dosis de refuerzo fue efectiva en un 24% de los pacientes no respondedores, y un 69% mantenía la respuesta inmunológica al final del primer año. Las dosis de refuerzo repetidas en pacientes no respondedores a una primera dosis consiguieron nuevas seroconversiones en un 19,6% de los pacientes. La práctica de controles semestrales podría haber permitido administrar dosis de recuerdo antes del período anual en un 16% de los pacientes respondedores. En conclusión, nuestros resultados demuestran que un protocolo de vacunación de la HB con un seguimiento serológico regular y dosis de refuerzo sucesivas consigue una aceptable seroprotección en los pacientes en hemodiálisis (AU)

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have an impaired response to hepatitis B (HB) vaccines, and the persistence of immunity, the efficacy of revaccination and the periodicity of postvaccination testing are not well defined. We present the experience during 18 years in an outpatient dialysis center of 136 HD patients who completed a HB vaccination program consisting in 3 doses of 40 μg intramuscular recombinant B vaccine (Engerix-B). In all patients anti-HBs titers were determined annually and in 31 patients every 6 months. Nonresponders patients and responders patients that lost their antibodies ( <10 ui ml received annually a booster double dose of vaccine seventy-four patients 54 4 developed immunity and the remaining 62 were considered nonresponders when compared both groups gender etiology chronic kidney disease did not differ between two nevertheless significantly older than responders after 1 year followup 32 had no detectable anti-hbs levels only 18 remained immunoreactive 6 years afer vaccination peak titer immediately completion schedule was found to be major predictor maintaining immunity: 75 with titers greater 1000 iu 3 47 100-999 p="0.02)." 34 11-99 administration additional doses effective in 24 69 them seropositive at end 1-year follow up repeated first afforded seroconversion 19 performing post-vaccination testing every six months it would have allowed give 16 responder before annual period conclusion: this current study demonstrates that hb regular serological affords an acceptable seroprotection hd (AU)

Caracterización citofluorométrica de dos anticuerpos monoclonales específicos de epítopos polimórficos de moléculas HLA de clase I: 30.13.38 (anti-A2, A68, A69) y 29.30.6 (Anti-Bw6) / Cytofluorometric characterisation of two monoclonal antibodies recognising polymorphic epitopes of HLA class I molecules: 30.13.38 (anti-A*02, A*68 and A*69) and 29.30.6 (anti-Bw6)

Hemos caracterizado mediante citometría de flujo los anticuerpos monoclonales frente a moléculas HLA de clase I 30.13.38 y 29.30.6. Nuestros datos previos sobre su reactividad, obtenidos mediante citotoxicidad dependiente de complemento, indicaban que estos anticuerpos eran específicos de HLA-A2+A28, y del epítopo Bw6 portado por algunas moléculas HLA-B, respectivamente. Los experimentos de citometría de flujo mostraron que 30.13.38 reacciona con todos los alelos A*02, A*68 y A*69 disponibles en nuestro laboratorio: A*0201, *0204, *0205, *0207, *0211, *6801, *6802, and *6901. De acuerdo con estos datos, el epítopo diana más probable de 30.13.38 es TTKH (142-145). Por otra parte, el anticuerpo 29.30.6 tiñó con alta intensidad todas las células que expresan alelos con la secuencia asociada a Bw6 ESLRNLRG (76-83). Además, 29.30.6 reconoció con menor afinidad las variantes de esa secuencia que aparecen en B*7301 (VGLRNLRG), B*4601 (VSLRNLRG) y múltiples alelos HLA-C. No obstante, la afinidad de la interacción con estas variantes está por debajo o cerca del umbral de sensibilidad de la tipificación serológica (AU)