Monitoring Humoral Response Following BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Study along with a Brief Review of Current Literature.

Data on antibody response (AR) after vaccination against SARS-CoV2 in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation setting (HSCT) were initially scarce, mainly due to the exclusion of such patients from approval studies. Shortly after the worldwide application of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in vulnerable populations such as patients with hematologic malignancies, limited single-center trials, including HSCT patients, were published. However, there was a great heterogeneity between them regarding the type of underlying malignancy, co-current treatment, type of vaccine, method of AR measurement, and time point of AR measurement. Herein, we present the results of a prospective study on AR after vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 using the BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of 54 HSCT recipients-mostly autologous from a single Unit-along with a broad review of the current literature. In our cohort, the AR positivity rate at 1 month was 80.8% and remained positive in 85.7% of patients at 3 months after vaccination. There were only nine non-responders, who were more heavily pretreated and more frequently hypogammaglobulinemic compared to responders. High antibody titers (AT), [AT ≥ 1000 U/mL], were detected in 38.5% and 30.6% of the patients at m1 and m3, respectively. A significant decline in AT between m1 and m3 was demonstrated-p < 0.0001; median AT1 and AT3 were 480.5 and 293 U/mL, respectively. A novel finding of our study was the negative impact of IgA hypogammaglobulinemia on response to vaccination. Other negative significant factors were treatment with anti-CD20 antibody at vaccination and vaccination within 18 months from HSCT. Our data indicate that HSCT recipients elicit a positive response to the BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 when vaccinated at 6 months post-transplant, and vaccination should be offered to this patient population even within the post-pandemic COVID-19 era.

First pilot study of maternal spindle transfer for the treatment of repeated in vitro fertilization failures in couples with idiopathic infertility.

OBJECTIVES: To gain insights into the technical feasibility of maternal spindle transfer (MST) applied in the context of repeated in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures for the treatment of idiopathic infertility. DESIGN: A prospective pilot study. SETTING: IVF center. PATIENT(S): Twenty-five infertile couples with multiple previous unsuccessful IVF cycles (range, 3-11), no previous pregnancy, and no history of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease participated. The study focused on women <40 years, with previous IVF attempts characterized by a pattern of low fertilization rates and/or impaired embryo development. Couples with severe male-factor infertility were not eligible. Oocyte donors with previous successful IVF outcomes were matched with patients according to standard practice. INTERVENTION(S): We performed MST by transferring metaphase II spindles from the patients' oocytes into the previously enucleated donor oocytes, followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro embryo culture, blastocyst biopsy, and vitrification. Only euploid blastocysts were considered for embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Outcome measures included oocyte fertilization, blastocyst development, clinical pregnancy and live birth, incidence of mitochondrial carryover and potential mtDNA reversal, as well as general health of the children born. RESULT(S): Twenty-eight MST cycles produced 6 children (19 embryo transfers, 7 clinical pregnancies). Pediatric follow-up of the children, performed at intervals from birth to 12-24 months of age, revealed their development to be unremarkable. DNA fingerprinting confirmed that the nuclear DNA of MST children was inherited from both parents, without any contribution from the oocyte donor. For 5 of the children, mtDNA was derived almost exclusively (>99%) from the donor. However, 1 child, who had similarly low mtDNA carryover (0.8%) at the blastocyst stage, showed an increase in the maternal mtDNA haplotype, accounting for 30% to 60% of the total at birth. CONCLUSION(S): This pilot study provides the first insights into the feasibility of applying MST for patients with idiopathic infertility and repeated IVF failures. Reconstructed oocytes produced embryos capable of implanting, developing to term and producing apparently healthy newborns/children. However, claims concerning the efficacy of MST with respect to infertility treatment would be premature considering the limitations of this study. Importantly, mtDNA reversal was detected in one child born after MST, a finding with possible implications for mitochondrial replacement therapies. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Pilot trial registry number, ISRCTN11455145. The date of registration: 20/02/2018. The date of enrolment of the first patients: 18/03/2018.

Chronic rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Although the mortality rate after abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture approximates 90% despite the urgent management, a few cases of chronic rupture and delayed repair have been reported in the world literature; anatomic and hemodynamic reasons occasionally allow for the fortunate course of these patients. We report in this article the case of 76-year-old man with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm who was transferred to our facility 4 weeks after his initial hospitalization in a district institution and who finally had a successful open repair.

Renal Function Impairment in Patients Undergoing Elective EVAR vs. Elective Open Repair During Follow up Period: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular (EVAR) or open surgical (OSR) repair are current treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). OBJECTIVE: To produce a systematic review comparing the impact of these 2 treatment options on renal function during mid- and long term follow up. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases and key references were searched. RESULTS: Six studies were included from 2000 to 2016, (4 retrospective and 2 RCT studies) reporting on 2,102 patients (54%; 1096 EVAR, 46%; 1006 OSR). The mean age in EVAR group ranged from 69.4 to 73.8 years (91% males), and in OSR group from 68 to 73.6 years (91% males). The data were too heterogeneous to perform a meta-analysis. All studies used GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) or estimated GFR (eGFR) to record renal function. The commonest risk factors were the presence of hypertension (77.5%), hyperlipidaemia (48.3%), coronary artery disease (42%) and smoking (37.8%). During follow up, new events of renal impairment (increase >20% in GFR) in EVAR patients and in OSR patients were 58 (5.3%) and 52 (5.2%), respectively. The mean GFR was decreased during follow up period in both types of the procedure. CONCLUSION: There is lack of definitive evidence to prove the superiority of OSR over EVAR regarding renal function in the post-operative follow up period. It appears that renal impairment may occur after both interventions. Further prospective research is needed to clarify the issue.

Cancer and fecundity issues mandate a multidisciplinary approach.

OBJECTIVE: To review the existing options for preserving fecundity in young cancer patients, outlining the differences that exist in each individual cancer situation and how these affect our choice of fecundity-preserving measures. DESIGN: Review the pathophysiology data on ovarian function that serve for outlining the advantages and/or drawbacks of certain fecundity-preserving measures such as ovarian freezing and emergency IVF. Provide support arguments for outlining the need for setting locally rooted cancer and fecundity task forces that throw the bases for a multidisciplinary approach in this field. SETTING: Review of literature data. PATIENT(S): Women of reproductive age affected with different types of cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Outcome of selected emergency fertility preserving measures such as ovarian tissue freezing followed by grafting or emergency IVF. RESULT(S): When performed in the 30s-the typical age for breast cancer, the most frequently encountered cancer in women of reproductive age, ovarian freezing hampers ovarian recovery and the chances for spontaneous pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): Based on a review of the different situations encountered, we recommend that fecundity-preserving measures offered to young cancer patients, including ovarian freezing and emergency IVF, emanate from multidisciplinary approaches.