Immunogenicity and Safety of the Third Booster Dose with mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccine after Receiving Two Doses of Inactivated or Viral Vector COVID-19 Vaccine.

The changes in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the tapering of immunity after vaccination have propelled the need for a booster dose vaccine. We aim to evaluate B and T cell immunogenicity and reactogenicity of mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (100 µg) as a third booster dose after receiving either two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac) or two doses of viral vector vaccine (AZD1222) in adults not previously infected with COVID-19. The anti-receptor-binding-domain IgG (anti-RBD IgG), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) against the Delta variant, and Interferon-Gamma (IFN-γ) level were measured at baseline, day (D)14 and D90 after vaccination. In D14 and D90, the geometric means of sVNT were significantly increased to 99.4% and 94.5% inhibition in CoronaVac, respectively, whereas AZD1222 showed inhibition of 99.1% and 93%, respectively. Anti-RBD IgG levels were 61,249 to 9235 AU/mL in CoronaVac and 38,777 to 5877 AU/mL in AZD1222 after D14 and D90 vaccination. Increasing median frequencies of S1-specific T cell response by IFN-γ concentration were also elevated in D14 and were not significantly different between CoronaVac (107.8-2035.4 mIU/mL) and AZD1222 (282.5-2001.2 mIU/mL). This study provides evidence for the high immunogenicity of the mRNA-1273 booster after two doses of CoronaVac or AZD1222 in the Thai population.

Comparative Study of the Effects of Tamoxifen Citrate and Folate on Semen Quality of the Infertile Male with Semen Abnormality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of treatment with a combination of the antiestrogen Tamoxifen citrate and Folate on semen quality of the infertile male with semen abnormality. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between May 2013 and October 2014, 68 infertile male with semen abnormality were asked to join the present study. Informed consents were signed; all patients were divided into four groups, given placebo (control), Tamoxifen citrate 20 mg/day, Folate 5 mg/day, and Tamoxifen citrate plus Folate for continuous three months. The result of treatments i.e., semen parameters, hyaluronan binding assay, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and DNA damage test were evaluated at baseline, at the end of drugs treatment (3-month), and at 3-month after discontinuation of treatment (6-month). RESULTS: Tamoxifen alone caused a significant increase in sperm concentration, while Tamoxifen plus Folate significantly increased both sperm concentration and sperm motility at 3-month after treatment. Folate alone and Tamoxifen plus Folate significantly decreased DNA tail length at 3-month and at 3- and 6-month after treatment, whereas Tamoxifen alone caused no significant change in DNA tail length. Sperm DNA integrity was improved as seen by decrease in the length ofDNA tail. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that Folate in combination with Tamoxifen citrate could improve sperm quality including semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity.

Comparison of level of pain between using manual vacuum aspiration and sharp curettage in management of abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the level of pain between using manual vacuum aspiration and sharp curettage in the patients who had abnormal uterine bleeding that underwent uterine curettage under paracervical block with analgesics. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between September 2009 to June 2010, 48 women with abnormal uterine bleeding who need to undergone uterine curettage were asked to join the present study and informed consents were signed. Twenty four women were randomly assigned into manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) group and other 24 women into sharp curettage group. The main outcome was the difference of the level of pain before, during and after procedure measured by using the visual analog scale and categorical pain scores. Fisher exact, Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The median visual analog score during MVA-procedure was significantly lower than the median visual analog score during in sharp curettage (median visual analog pain scores (interquartile range) 80 (30-100) vs. 45 (0-80); p < 0.01)). And the median score immediately after procedure in the MVA group was also significantly lower than in the sharp curettage group (median visual analog pain scores (interquartile range) 45 (0-80 vs. 25 (0-70); p = 0.02). The categorical pain score in the MVA group during procedure and immediately after procedure were also significantly lower than in the sharp curettage group. (No pain to mild pain vs. moderated to severe pain; p = 0.03, immediately after procedure: no pain to mild pain vs. moderated to severe pain; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The level of pain in the patients who underwent uterine curettage by using MVA was lower than using sharp curettage. The using MVA may reduce pain compared to sharp curettage. However, more sample size research should be conducted to determine this significant.

Comparison of cycle control and side effects between transdermal contraceptive patch and an oral contraceptive in women older than 35 years.

OBJECTIVE: To compare menstrual patterns and side effects between transdermal contraceptive patch and oral contraceptive use in Thai women over 35 years old. DESIGN: Open labeled randomized control trial. SETTING: Family Planning Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ninety-six women above the age of 35 years old were randomized to receive either transdermal contraceptive patch (n = 48) or oral contraceptive (n = 48). The patch regimen was three consecutive 7-day patches (21 days) followed by 1 patch-free week per cycle; the oral contraceptive contained with ethinyl estradiol (EE) 30 microg and levonorgestrel 150 microg. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of cycle length. The mean duration in the transdermal contraceptive group was longer than the COC group with statistically significant difference. More patients in the COC group experienced spotting than the transdermal contraceptive group. Neither amenorrhea nor pregnancies occurred in both groups. CONCLUSION: Transdermal contraceptive patch provides reliable contraceptive efficacy. It also provides good cycle control equal to COC in Thai women aged above 35 years old. However, a higher incidence of minor adverse effects such as breast tenderness and nausea were demonstrated when compared to oral contraceptive containing with ethinyl estradiol (EE) 30 microg and levonorgestrel 150 microg.