Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in Healthcare Workers: Which One is More Successful? Homologous or Heterologous?

Objectives: We aimed to determine the antibody levels created by COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers and the factors affecting the antibody response. Methods: Our research is a single-center, observational study that was prospectively designed and retrospectively analyzed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and included 103 healthcare workers who received the three-dose regimen of COVID-19 vaccine. In accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Turkey, the first two doses of CoronaVac vaccine were administered routinely, while the booster dose was given as BioNTech or CoronaVac (heterologous or homologous vaccination) depending on the preference of the volunteers. Antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 were measured in all individuals at different time points (1 month after the second dose of CoronaVac, before the booster dose [BioNTech or CoronaVac] at the fifth month and one month after the booster dose) with AESKULISA® SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG (AESKU DIAGNOSTICS, Wendelsheim, Germany). Results: The mean age was 39.98±11.31 years, 62.1% of whom were women and 54.4% of them were accompanied by comorbid disease. After two doses of CoronaVac, the antibody titer averaged 49.50±33.15 U/mL in the 1st month (antibody seropositivity 86%) and the antibody titer decreased 24.01±33.48 U/mL (antibody seropositivity 49.5%) at 5th month. The mean antibody titer was found 59.73±60.20 U/ml in those who received the booster dose of homologous and 185.07±46.28 U/mL in those who were heterologous (p<0.001). Antibody levels were detected significantly lower after the booster dose of vaccination in patients with comorbidities (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study, which reflects the data within the scope of the Turkey Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination program determined that the antibody response after heterologous vaccination is better than in homologous vaccination. Antibody titer level in the 5th month was 50% waned after two doses of inactivated vaccination. It was also shown that factors such as gender, age, body mass index, and smoking did not create a statistically significant difference in homologous and heterologous vaccination, but after the booster dose antibody levels decreased significantly in those with comorbidity.

The First Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation Patient (Fetus) with Homozygous COG5 c.95T>G Variant.

Introduction: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are autosomal recessive hereditary genetic disorders characterized by abnormal glycosylation of N-linked oligosaccharides. Case Presentation: In this research, prenatal testing (24th week of pregnancy) revealed findings like polyhydramnios, hydrocephaly, abnormal facial features/shape, brain morphology abnormality, spina bifida, vertebral column abnormality, macrocephaly, scoliosis, micrognathia, abnormal kidney morphology, short fetal femur length, and short fetal humerus length in the fetus. Whole-exome sequencing was performed; the COG5 gene has shown a pathogenic variant. Discussion: Homozygous patients have never been seen before in the literature for COG5-CDG. We demonstrate the first CDG patient at fetus stage with homozygous COG5 c.95T>G variant.

New indicator of cellular ischemia in coronary slow-flow phenomenon: Cell-free DNA.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is defined as the delayed arrival of coronary blood flow to the distal vascular bed in at least 1 major epicardial coronary artery. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a type of DNA that circulates freely in the blood once released from nucleated cells. The aim of this study was to determine if the level of cfDNA, which is an indicator of ischemia at the cellular level, was increased in CSFP. METHODS: The study included 46 patients in total: 23 patients with CSFP and 23 with a normal coronary angiogram (NCA). The level of cfDNA, and clinical, biochemical, and angiographic features of the groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was 53.8±10.3 years for the CSFP patient group and 56.6±9.4 years for the NCA patient group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of basal clinical characteristics or laboratory data. The plasma cfDNA level was 5.04±2.37 ng/µL in the CSFP patients and 2.28±1.09 ng/µL in the NCA group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Several invasive and noninvasive studies conducted on patients with CSFP have revealed myocardial ischemia. The results of this study demonstrated that the level of cfDNA was significantly increased in patients with CSFP as a result of ischemia at the cellular level caused by microvascular disruption.

Kruppel-Like Transcription Factor-4 Gene Expression and DNA Methylation Status in Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious microvascular complications in diabetic patients. The kruppel-like transcription factor-4 (KLF-4) affects the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of DN. The present study aims to identify the KLF-4 expression and DNA methylation (DNAMe) status in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D) and DN and to reveal the contribution of the KLF-4 to the development of DN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cohort study was performed with blood samples from 120 individuals; T2D group (n = 40), DN group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). The expression level of the KLF-4 gene was analyzed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the methylation profile detected using the methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) technique. RESULTS: According to our findings, KLF-4 mRNA expression in the T2D group was 1.60 fold lower than in the control group (p = 0.001). In the DN group, the expression of KLF-4 mRNA was 2.92-fold less than that of the T2D group (p = 0.001). There was no significant alteration in the DNAMe status among the groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that regardless of the DNAMe status, KLF-4 gene expression may play a role in the development of T2D and DN. This suggests that the KLF-4 gene may be the target gene in understanding the mechanism of nephropathy, which is the most important complication of diabetes, and planning nephropathy-related treatments, but the data should be supported with more studies.

A Novel ATP6V0A2 Mutation Causing Recessive Cutis Laxa with Unusual Manifestations of Bleeding Diathesis and Defective Wound Healing

Objective: Autosomal recessive cutis laxa type IIA (ARCL2A) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by loose and elastic skin, growth and developmental delay, and skeletal anomalies. It is caused by biallelic mutations in ATP6V0A2. Those mutations lead to increased pH in secretory vesicles and thereby to impaired glycosyltransferase activity and organelle trafficking. We aimed to identify the genetic and molecular cause of the unexpected hematological findings in a Turkish family. Materials and Methods: We performed clinical, genetic, and histological analyses of a consanguineous family afflicted with wrinkled and loose skin, microcephaly, intellectual disability, cleft lip and palate, downslanting palpebral fissures, ectopia lentis, bleeding diathesis, and defective wound healing. Results: Linkage analysis using SNP genotype data yielded a maximal multipoint logarithm of odds score of 2.59 at 12q24.21-24.32. Exome sequence analysis for the proband led to the identification of novel homozygous frameshift c.2085_2088del (p.(Ser695Argfs*12)) in ATP6V0A2, within the linked region, in the two affected siblings. Conclusion: Our patients do not have gross structural brain defects besides microcephaly, strabismus, myopia, and growth or developmental delay. Large platelets were observed in the patients and unusual electron-dense intracytoplasmic inclusions in fibroblasts and epidermal basal cells were observed in both affected and unaffected family members. The patients do not have any genetic defect in the VWF gene but von Willebrand factor activity to antigen ratios were low. Clinical findings of bleeding diathesis and defective wound healing have not been reported in ARCL2A and hence our findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease.

Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus Types in Turkish and Albanian Women.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the major etiologic agent of cervical carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and genotype distribution in cervical swabs from 2,234 Turkish and 357 Albanian women with similar lifestyles from two different countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPV detection and typing were performed by type specific multiplex fluorescent PCR and fragments were directly genotyped by high resolution fluorescence capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS: The most common type was HPV 16 and the second one was HPV 6 for both country. The third common type was 39 and 18 for Turkish and Albanian women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When we compare our results with other studies, there are differences between the frequency and order of the HPV genotypes detected at the second and subsequent frequencies. This may due to differences in the quality and type of samples analyzed, as well as the HPV detection methods.

Glycoprotein Ibα Kozak polymorphism in patients presenting with early-onset acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) receptor is the chief molecule responsible for initial platelet adhesion to the subendothelium. A thymidine to cytosine single nucleotide substitution at position -5 from the ATG start codon characterizes the Kozak sequence polymorphism. The Kozak sequence polymorphism may increase the surface expression of GPIbα and contribute to thrombogenesis. We evaluated the allele frequencies of GPIbα Kozak sequence polymorphism in the Turkish population and examined the relationship between GPIbα Kozak sequence polymorphism and early-onset acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study enrolled 200 patients (122 male, 78 female, mean age: 39 ±5 years) and 200 healthy control subjects (110 male, 90 female, 41 ±4 years). The patient group was composed of patients admitted to our coronary care unit with early-onset ACS and patients who attended to our cardiology outpatient clinic after hospital discharge with a diagnosis of early-onset ACS. RESULTS: Kozak polymorphism frequencies in patients and control subjects did not differ significantly (23% versus 22.5%, p = 0.812, respectively). In patients who presented with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), the frequency of GPIbα Kozak polymorphism was borderline significantly higher when compared with patients who presented with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (35% vs. 20%, p = 0.05, respectively). Allele frequencies of T and C were calculated to be 0.873 and 0.128. CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency of GPIbα Kozak polymorphism did not differ significantly in early-onset ACS patients versus control subjects, Kozak polymorphism frequency was borderline significantly higher in patients who presented with NSTEMI when compared to patients with STEMI.

Pharmacogenetic Aspect of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Treatment in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Five-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the role of complement factor H (CFH) in response to intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) treatment, which is administered to patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 90 nAMD patients' 90 eyes were evaluated. IVR was injected once a month for three consecutive months, and then, patients were followed up for five years by using pro re nata method. RESULTS: Average visual acuity (BCVA) values in TT group for the third, fourth and fifth years were found to be significantly higher than those in TC and CC groups, while average BCVA values in TC group were significantly higher than those in CC group (all p = .000 < .0167). CONCLUSION: Patients with CFH TT genotype responded significantly better to treatment after third year, while patients with CC genotype had a poorer response to IVR.

Prophylactic Eculizumab Use in Kidney Transplantation: A Review of the Literature and Report of a Case with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a very rare disease, which presents with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from acute kidney injury is observed in 60% of aHUS cases. The prognosis of aHUS patients who undergo kidney transplantation (Ktx) is generally poor, but these patients should be treated prophylactically with eculizumab to prevent recurrence after transplantation. CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old man was referred to our center with a history of rapid progression to ESRD with unknown etiology. He had anemia, thrombocytopenia, high levels of LDH, and indirect bilirubin and creatinine on initial laboratory results. Our diagnosis was aHUS due to initial results, normal level of ADAMTS activity, and lack of predisposing factors seen in typical HUS. We planned to perform genetic analysis for the patient and the donor candidate (mother). The variations found on exon 7 of the CFH gene had not been reported previously. According to PolyPhen analysis, this mutation was reported as a potential cause for aHUS. We decided to perform Ktx under eculizumab prophylaxis. Weekly administration of prophylaxis was extended to 1 month. The graft functioned immediately after Ktx. The patient has completed his first year uneventfully in our follow-up, with a creatinine 0.79 mg/dl at his last control visit. CONCLUSIONS: We found favorable results of an aHUS case successfully treated with kidney transplantation combined with short-term prophylactic eculizumab therapy.

The Relationship between P-Selectin Polymorphisms and Thrombosis in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Pilot Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: The selectins are cell adhesion molecules that mediate the interactions among leukocytes, activated platelets, and endothelial cells. We aimed to investigate whether P-selectin polymorphisms are associated with thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diagnosis and classification of APS were based on the report of an international workshop. Genomic DNA was extracted from citrated blood samples of all subjects. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the P-selectin coding region (S290N, c.1087G>A; N562D, c.1902G>A; T715P, c.2363A>C) were assessed. RESULTS: There were 26 APS (65%) patients with thrombosis. The number of patients without thrombosis was 14 (35%). The frequency of the N562D-DN genotype was significantly higher in patients with APS than in healthy controls (p=0.003). The frequency of this genotype was significantly higher in patients with APS with thrombosis compared with patients with no thrombosis (p=0.03). The N562D-NN genotype was found at a higher frequency in patients with APS than in healthy controls (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the N562D polymorphism of the DN genotype of P-selectin is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in patients with APS.

MPL W515L/K Mutations in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: The MPL gene encodes the thrombopoietin receptor. Recently MPL mutations (MPL W515L or MPL W515K) were described in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary (idiopathic) myelofibrosis (PMF). The prevalence and the clinical importance of these mutations are not clear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the frequency and clinical significance of MPL W515L/K mutations in our patients with ET and PMF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 77 patients (66 were diagnosed with ET and 11 with PMF) and 42 healthy controls were included in the study. Using peripheral blood samples, the presence of MPL W515L/K mutations and JAK-2 V617F mutation were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In our study, MPL W515L/K or JAK-2 V617F mutations were not observed in healthy controls. JAK-2 V617F mutation was present in 35 patients, of whom 29 had ET (43.9%, 29/66) and 6 had PMF (54.5%, 6/11). In the patient group, MPL W515L/K mutations were found in only 2 PMF cases, and these cases were negative for JAK-2 V617F mutation. The prevalence of MPL W515L/K mutations in the patient group was 2.6%, and the prevalence of MPL W515L/K mutations among the cases negative for the JAK-2 V617F mutation was found to be 4.8%. The 2 cases with MPL W515L/K mutations had long follow-up times (124 months and 71 months, respectively), had no thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications, and had no additional cytogenetic anomalies. CONCLUSION: MPL W515L/K mutations may be helpful for identifying clonal disease in MPN patients with no established Ph chromosome or JAK-2 V617F mutation. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None declared.

Eculizumab therapy in a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome and CFI mutation.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the most common cause of acute renal failure in childhood. It usually occurs after a prodromal episode of diarrhea and it leads to significant morbidity and mortality during the acute phase. However, cases that start as diarrhea-positive HUS whose renal function fail to recover should be screened for genetic disorders of the complement system, which is called atypical HUS (aHUS). CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: We herein report a 10-year-old girl, who initially came with bloody diarrhea and had features of HUS with delayed renal and hematological recovery despite plasma therapy. Eculizumab (600 mg/week) was initiated on day 15 for atypical presentation and later a complement factor I (CFI) mutation was detected. The girl recovered diuresis within 24 h and after the third eculizumab infusion, hemoglobin, platelet, and C3 levels normalized; renal function improved; and proteinuria completely disappeared in 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: It is our belief that eculizumab can be the treatment of choice in children who have plasma exchange-refractory HUS with defective regulation of the alternative complement pathway.

The clinical significance of JAK2V617F mutation for Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms in patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis.

Polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF), collectively known as Philadelphia-negative (Ph-negative) chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), MPNs represent the most common causes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), including Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The JAK2V617F mutation has been demonstrated in most of the Ph-negative chronic MPNs. The study objective was to assess the diagnostic value of JAK2V617F mutation in patients with SVT in a group of 68 patients with SVT (42 PVT,19 BCS, 7 combined PVT and BCS). By DNA-melting curve analysis, the JAK2V617F mutation was detected in 42.1 % of BCS, 38.1 % of PVT and 71.4 % of combined PVT and BCS groups. Thirteen of 15 (86.6 %) SVT patients with overt MPN and 16 of 53 (30.1 %) SVT patients without overt MPN (patients with either normal blood counts or cytopenias), including 6 of 16 with BCS (37.5 %), 7 of 33 with PVT (21.2 %) and 3 of 4 with combined BCS and PVT (75 %) possessed JAK2V617F mutation. A substantial proportion of patients with SVT were recognized as carriers of the JAK2V617F mutation despite the absence of overt signs of MPN. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined a platelet count of 190,000 mm(3) (area under the curve; AUC = 0.724, p = 0.002) and a white blood cell (WBC) count of 8,150 mm(3) (AUC = 0.76, p = 0.001) as the best cut-off values for the highest sensitivity and specificity ratios of the JAK2V617F mutation in patients with SVT. A significant positive correlation existed between the JAK2V617F mutational status of SVT patients and the WBC and platelet counts. Our results imply that JAK2V617F mutation screening should be an initial test for MPN in patients with SVT.

Glycoprotein Ib-alpha Kozak polymorphism in ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a T/C polymorphism in the Kozak sequence of glycoprotein Ib-alpha (GPIb-alpha) gene at position -5 from the initiator ATG codons, has been identified. The presence of -5C allele increases the surface expression of GPIb-IX-V complex in a gene dosage-dependent manner. It has been suggested that higher receptor levels might increase the adhesiveness of the platelets and confer risk for thrombosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between GPIb-alpha Kozak polymorphism and ischemic stroke. METHODS: We prospectively and consecutively recruited 231 patients (118 women and 113 men; mean age: 65 ± 14.2 years) with first ever ischemic stroke admitted to Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Edip Aktin Stroke Unit between April 2007 and June 2009. Demographic features, risk factors, clinical, and etiological subtypes were analyzed. As the control group, 220 unrelated healthy subjects were included. RESULTS: We found that 156 patients had TT, 70 patients had TC, and 5 patients had CC genotype. At least one copy of C allele carriers were overrepresented in the ischemic stroke group (32.5%) compared with controls (23%) [odds ratio (OR): 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40-0.93; P = 0.03]. Among etiologic subtypes, the distribution of C allele carriers was the highest in patients with undetermined etiology (45%) and it was significantly higher than controls (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.20-0.65; P = 0.0008). In other subtypes, there was no association with Kozak -5C allele. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these encouraging preliminary results show that GPIb-alpha T/C polymorphism might increase the risk of ischemic stroke, especially in those with undetermined etiology.

The impact of platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib alpha and Ia/IIa polymorphisms on the risk of thrombosis in the antiphospholipid syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis of thrombus formation in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is not clear. Platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) receptors play important roles in development of thrombosis. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between development of thrombosis in APS and polymorphisms of GPIb alpha variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), Kozak, and GPIa C807T. Patients/Methods Sixty patients with APS (30 with proven thrombosis and 30 without thrombosis) and 63 controls were included. Presence of GPIa C807T polymorphism was determined with real-time PCR and GPIb alpha Kozak and VNTR polymorphisms by conventional PCR. RESULTS: Frequency of C807T TT genotype was significantly higher in APS with thrombosis than APS without thrombosis (p=0.023) and also in APS with multiple thrombi compared to APS without thrombi (p=0.023). Frequency of Kozak TC genotype was higher in APS with arterial thrombosis compared to APS with venous thrombosis, controls, and APS without thrombosis (p=0.03, p=0.0007, and p=0.0024 respectively). D allele frequency and D allele carrier state for VNTR were significantly less in APS than controls (p=0.0018 and p=0.0046 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: C807T TT genotype may confer a risk for thrombosis and Kozak TC genotype for arterial thrombosis. D allele of VNTR may protect from APS. No patients with C807T TT or Kozak TC genotypes carried the protective DD genotype of VNTR. These polymorphisms may increase risk for both arterial and venous thrombosis. The utility of prophylaxis with anti-platelet drugs in at least a subgroup of APS patients should be investigated with clinical trials.

Overexpression of Fc mu receptor (FCMR, TOSO) gene in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.

Rai and Binet staging systems that have been used as a standard method for evaluating the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have some restrictions in distinguishing the early stage CLL patients that will progress rapidly. To solve this shortcoming, prognostic parameters other than staging have become important in the recent years. Intracellular upregulation of Fc mu receptor (FCMR, FAIM3/TOSO) gene in the leukemic lymphocytes of the patients with CLL may be an important parameter in predicting the progression of the disease. In this study, FCMR mRNA expression levels were evaluated in 50 CLL patients and in 50 healthy controls. FCMR mRNA expression was found to be significantly higher in CLL patients than in healthy controls. We, then, evaluated FCMR mRNA levels according to the stages of CLL. Rai stage 0, I, II cases were compared with stage III and IV, and Binet A was compared with Binet B and C according to FCMR mRNA levels. In cases with higher risks, Rai stage III, IV and Binet stage B and C, FCMR mRNA levels were also significantly higher. In addition, overexpression of the FCMR seems to be promoting the chromosomal abnormalities. As a result, we found that the mRNA levels of FCMR in the CLL patients are 23-fold higher than that of the control group and this may suggest that it can be associated with the disease progression and survival. For this reason and because of the simplicity of analyzing with Q-PCR, it can be a useful clinical parameter, after its importance has been shown in larger and multi-variate studies.