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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel human coronavirus that was identified in 2019. SARS-CoV-2 infection results in an acute, severe respiratory disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emergence and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global public health crisis, which continues to affect populations across the globe. Real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the reference standard test for COVID-19 diagnosis. Serological tests are valuable tools for serosurveillance programs and establishing correlates of protection from disease. This study evaluated the performance of one in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) utilizing the pre-fusion stabilized ectodomain of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), two commercially available chemiluminescence assays Ortho VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total Reagent Pack and Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and one commercially available Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test (sVNT), GenScript USA Inc., cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. Using a panel of RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients’ sera and a negative control group as a reference standard, all three immunoassays demonstrated high comparable positivity rates and low discordant rates. All three immunoassays were highly sensitive with estimated sensitivities ranging from 95.4%-96.6%. ROC curve analysis indicated that all three immunoassays had high diagnostic accuracies with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.9698-0.9807. High positive correlation was demonstrated among the conventional microneutralization test (MNT) titers and the sVNT inhibition percent values. Our study indicates that independent evaluations are necessary to optimize the overall utility and the interpretation of the results of serological tests. Overall, we demonstrate that all serological tests evaluated in this study are suitable for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

ImportanceAssociations between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes have substantial public health relevance. A previous study found no association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and parent-reported infant neurodevelopmental outcomes, but standardized observational assessments are needed to confirm this finding.ObjectiveTo assess whether mild or asymptomatic maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection vs no infection during pregnancy is associated with infant neurodevelopmental differences at ages 5 to 11 months.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study included infants of mothers from a single-site prospective cross-sectional study (COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes [COMBO] Initiative) of mother-infant dyads and a multisite prospective cohort study (Epidemiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Pregnancy and Infancy [ESPI]) of pregnant individuals. A subset of ESPI participants was subsequently enrolled in the ESPI COMBO substudy. Participants in the ongoing COMBO study were enrolled beginning on May 26, 2020; participants in the ESPI study were enrolled from May 7 to November 3, 2021; and participants in the ESPI COMBO substudy were enrolled from August 2020 to March 2021. For the current analysis, infant neurodevelopment was assessed between March 2021 and June 2022. A total of 407 infants born to 403 mothers were enrolled (204 from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, New York; 167 from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City; and 36 from the University of Alabama in Birmingham). Mothers of unexposed infants were approached for participation based on similar infant gestational age at birth, date of birth, sex, and mode of delivery to exposed infants.ExposuresMaternal symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.Main Outcomes and MeasuresInfant neurodevelopment was assessed using the Developmental Assessment of Young Children, second edition (DAYC-2), adapted for telehealth assessment. The primary outcome was age-adjusted standard scores on 5 DAYC-2 subdomains: cognitive, gross motor, fine motor, expressive language, and receptive language.ResultsAmong 403 mothers, the mean (SD) maternal age at delivery was 32.1 (5.4) years; most mothers were of White race (240 [59.6%]) and non-Hispanic ethnicity (253 [62.8%]). Among 407 infants, 367 (90.2%) were born full term and 212 (52.1%) were male. Overall, 258 infants (63.4%) had no documented prenatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection, 112 (27.5%) had confirmed prenatal exposure, and 37 (9.1%) had exposure before pregnancy or at an indeterminate time. In adjusted models, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was not associated with differences in cognitive (β = 0.31; 95% CI, −2.97 to 3.58), gross motor (β = 0.82; 95% CI, −1.34 to 2.99), fine motor (β = 0.36; 95% CI, −0.74 to 1.47), expressive language (β = −1.00; 95% CI, −4.02 to 2.02), or receptive language (β = 0.45; 95% CI, −2.15 to 3.04) DAYC-2 subdomain scores. Trimester of exposure and maternal symptom status were not associated with DAYC-2 subdomain scores.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, results of a novel telehealth-adapted observational neurodevelopmental assessment extended a previous finding of no association between prenatal exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and infant neurodevelopment. Given the widespread and continued high prevalence of COVID-19, these data offer information that may be helpful for pregnant individuals who experience asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infections.

The diagnosis of dengue disease, caused by the dengue virus (DENV) (a flavivirus), often requires serologic testing during acute and early convalescent phases of the disease. Some symptoms of DENV infection, such as nonspecific fever, are similar to those caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In studies with few COVID-19 cases, positive DENV immunoglobulin M (IgM) results were reported with various serologic tests, indicating possible cross-reactivity in these tests for DENV and SARS-CoV-2 infections (1,2). DENV antibodies can cross-react with other flaviviruses, including Zika virus. To assess the potential cross-reactivity of SARS-CoV-2, DENV, and Zika virus IgM antibodies, serum specimens from 97 patients from Puerto Rico and 12 U.S.-based patients with confirmed COVID-19 were tested using the DENV Detect IgM Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (InBios International).* In addition, 122 serum specimens from patients with confirmed dengue and 121 from patients with confirmed Zika virus disease (all from Puerto Rico) were tested using the SARS-CoV-2 pan-Ig Spike Protein ELISA (CDC).

Most persons infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), develop virus-specific antibodies within several weeks, but antibody titers might decline over time. Understanding the timeline of antibody decline is important for interpreting SARS-CoV-2 serology results. Serum specimens were collected from a convenience sample of frontline health care personnel at 13 hospitals and tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 during April 3-June 19, 2020, and again approximately 60 days later to assess this timeline. The percentage of participants who experienced seroreversion, defined as an antibody signal-to-threshold ratio >1.0 at baseline and

To assess the household secondary infection risk (SIR) of B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and non-Alpha lineages of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among children.During January to April 2021, we prospectively followed households with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We collected questionnaires, serial nasopharyngeal swabs for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing and whole genome sequencing, and serial blood samples for serology testing. We calculated SIRs by primary case age (pediatric vs adult), household contact age, and viral lineage. We evaluated risk factors associated with transmission and described symptom profiles among children.Among 36 households with pediatric primary cases, 21 (58%) had secondary infections. Among 91 households with adult primary cases, 51 (56%) had secondary infections. SIRs among pediatric and adult primary cases were 45% and 54%, respectively (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.41-1.54). SIRs among pediatric primary cases with Alpha and non-Alpha lineage were 55% and 46%, respectively (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.51-4.53). SIRs among pediatric and adult household contacts were 55% and 49%, respectively (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.68-1.50). Among pediatric contacts, no significant differences in the odds of acquiring infection by demographic or household characteristics were observed.Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from children and adult primary cases to household members was frequent. The risk of secondary infection was similar among child and adult household contacts. Among children, household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the risk of secondary infection was not influenced by lineage. Continued mitigation strategies (eg, masking, physical distancing, vaccination) are needed to protect at-risk groups regardless of virus lineage circulating in communities.

Health care personnel (HCP) caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Understanding the prevalence of and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among frontline HCP who care for COVID-19 patients are important for protecting both HCP and their patients. During April 3-June 19, 2020, serum specimens were collected from a convenience sample of frontline HCP who worked with COVID-19 patients at 13 geographically diverse academic medical centers in the United States, and specimens were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Participants were asked about potential symptoms of COVID-19 experienced since February 1, 2020, previous testing for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the past week. Among 3,248 participants, 194 (6.0%) had positive test results for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence by hospital ranged from 0.8% to 31.2% (median = 3.6%). Among the 194 seropositive participants, 56 (29%) reported no symptoms since February 1, 2020, 86 (44%) did not believe that they previously had COVID-19, and 133 (69%) did not report a previous COVID-19 diagnosis. Seroprevalence was lower among personnel who reported always wearing a face covering (defined in this study as a surgical mask, N95 respirator, or powered air purifying respirator [PAPR]) while caring for patients (5.6%), compared with that among those who did not (9.0%) (p = 0.012). Consistent with persons in the general population with SARS-CoV-2 infection, many frontline HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection might be asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic during infection, and infection might be unrecognized. Enhanced screening, including frequent testing of frontline HCP, and universal use of face coverings in hospitals are two strategies that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Актуальність. Відкрита проникна травма з потраплянням стороннього тіла в хребтовий канал є одним з найбільш поширених уражень спинного мозку (СМ) військового часу; експериментальне відтворення окремих складових багатокомпонентної взаємодії між стороннім тілом та СМ утруднене.Мета дослідження. Вивчити клініко-морфологічні особливості моделі зазначеного виду спінальної травми.Матеріали і методи. Тварини — білі щури-самці (вік 5,5 міс, маса тіла 300 г, інбредна лінія, похідна породи Wistar); експериментальні групи: основна (травма СМ + негайна гомотопічна імплантація фрагмента мікропористого гідрогелю — стороннє тіло [n=10]); групи порівняння (травма СМ [n=16], травма СМ + імплантація хімічно ідентичного макропористого гідрогелю NeuroGelTM [n=20]). Модель травми — лівобічне пересічення половини СМ на рівні ТXI; моніторинг функції задніх кінцівок за шкалою ВВВ; морфологічне дослідження — стандартні гістологічні методики; трансмісійна електронна мікроскопія.Результати. Компресія СМ біологічно сумісним пружнім стороннім тілом суттєво погіршує перебіг процесів регенерації; протягом перших 8 тиж показник функції (ПФ) задньої іпсилатеральної кінцівки (ЗІК) у тварин найнижчий — (1,30±0,94) бала за шкалою ВВВ, через 3–4 міс ПФ ЗІК статистично значуще збільшувався до (2,35±0,95) бала за шкалою ВВВ, що, найімовірніше, пов’язане з змінами форми стороннього тіла та його утилізацією, зменшенням тиску на СМ. Через 24 тиж спостереження ПФ ЗІК становив (8,45±0,92) бала (в групі NeuroGelTM) та (2,35±0,95) бала (в групі стороннє тіло). Стороннє тіло протягом періоду експерименту, на відміну від фрагментів NeuroGelTM, не інтегроване у тканину СМ, оточене щільною фіброзною капсулою, практично не інфільтроване тканинним компонентом. Морфологічні зміни у протилежній частині СМ на рівні ураження не виявлені.Висновок. Використана модель задовільно відтворює механічний компонент дії стороннього тіла на тканину СМ, ознаки синдрому посттравматичної спастичності; зменшення компресії СМ навіть у віддаленому періоді травми суттєво покращує процеси регенерації., Background. Penetrating spinal cord injury with a foreign body in the spinal canal is one of the most common spinal cord injuries during wartime; the experimental reproduction of particular elements of complex interaction between a foreign body and the spinal cord is complicated.Objective. To examine clinical and pathomorphological features of the model of this type of spinal cord injury.Materials and methods. Animals: albino male rats (5.5 months, 300 grams, inbred line, the original strain is Wistar); experimental groups: basic (spinal cord injury + immediate homotopical implantation of a fragment of the microporous hydrogel – a foreign body [n=10]); comparison groups (spinal cord injury [n=16], spinal cord injury + immediate homotopical implantation of chemically identical macroporous hydrogel NeuroGel™ [n=20]). Model of injury: left-side spinal cord hemisection at ТXI level; monitoring the function of hind legs — the BBB scale; pathomorphological study: conventional histological techniques, transmission electronic microscopy.Results. Compression of the spinal cord by biologically compatible foreign body significantly worsens the course of the regeneration process; during the first 8 weeks the hind ipsilateral leg function indicator (HI LFI) in animals was the lowest one — (1.30±0.94) points by BBB scale; during the 3rd–4th month HI LFI increases to 2.35±0.95 points by BBB scale, which is likely due to the change in the form of a foreign body and its utilization, decrease of the pressure on the spinal cord. On the 24th week of the follow-up HI LFI was (8.45±0.92) points (in NeuroGelTM group) compared with (2.35±0.95) points by BBB scale (in the group with a foreign body). During the experiment a foreign body, unlike the fragments of the NeuroGelTM, was not integrated into the tissue of the spinal cord, was surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule, hardly infiltrated by tissue component. Morphological picture in the contra-lateral part of the spinal cord at the level of injury did not change.Conclusion. The model satisfactorily a mechanical component of a foreign body effect on the spinal cord tissue, presents the picture of post-traumatic syndrome of spasticity; reducing the spinal cord compression even at the late period of injury significantly improves the regeneration process., Актуальность. Открытая проникающая травма с попаданием инородного тела в позвоночный канал является одним из наиболее распространенных повреждений спинного мозга (СМ) военного времени; экспериментальное воспроизведение отдельных составляющих многокомпонентного взаимодействия между инородным телом и СМ затруднено.Цель исследования. Изучить клинико-морфологические особенности модели приведенного вида спинальной травмы.Материалы и методы. Животные — белые крысы-самцы (возраст 5,5 мес, масса тела 300 г, инбредная линия, производная породы Wistar); экспериментальные группы: основная (травма СМ + немедленная гомотопическая имплантация фрагмента микропористого гидрогеля — инородное тело [n=10]); группы сравнения (травма СМ [n=16], травма СМ + имплантация химически идентичного макропористого гидрогеля NeuroGelTM [n=20]). Модель травмы — левостороннее пересечение половины СМ на уровне ТXI; мониторинг функции задних конечностей (по шкале ВВВ); морфологическое исследование — стандартные гистологические методики; трансмиссионная электронная микроскопия.Результаты. Компрессия СМ биологически совместимым упругим инородным телом существенно ухудшает течение процессов регенерации; в сроки до 8 нед показатель функции (ПФ) задней ипсилатеральной конечности (ЗИК) у животных наименьший — (1,30±0,94) балла (по шкале ВВВ); через 3–4 мес ПФ ЗИК статистически значимо увеличивался до (2,35±0,95) балла (по шкале ВВВ), что, вероятно, обусловлено изменением формы инородного тела, уменьшением его объема, давления на СМ. Через 24 нед наблюдения ПФ ЗИК составил (8,45±0,92) балла (в группе NeuroGelTM) и (2,35±0,95) балла (в группе инородное тело). Инородное тело в период эксперимента, в отличие от фрагментов NeuroGelTM, не интегрировано в ткань СМ, окружено плотной фиброзной капсулой, практически не инфильтрировано тканевым компонентом. Морфологические изменения в противоположной доле СМ на уровне повреждения не выявлены.Выводы. Апробированная модель удовлетворительно воспроизводит механический компонент влияния инородного тела на ткань СМ, признаки синдрома посттравматической спастичности; уменьшение компрессии СМ даже в отдаленном периоде травмы существенно улучшает процессы регенерации.

Relevance of the topic. A promising tool for restoring the spinal cord function is the application of tissue neuroengineering. The approbation of its techniques is possible on qualitative spinal cord injury models that makes the transplantation of solid neuroengineered matrices feasible.Objective. To optimize and test a model of lower thoracic rat’s spinal cord hemisection.Materials and methods. 2 groups of experimental animals: 1 — mature animals (3–6 months, n=40) and 2 — young animals (1 month, n=32), the injury — left-side spinal cord hemisection (LHS) at Т11 level; monitoring of hindlimbs’ function (BBB scale), pathomorphological study.Results. LHS provides simultaneous display of a slight, moderate and severe spinal cord injury (the correlates, respectively, are: the function deficit of a contralateral hindlimb [CH] and an ipsilateral hindlimb [IH] among the animals with better and worse recovery indicators). As of the 11th week of the observation a function indicator was 3,2±0,58 points under BBB scale and 5,31±0,79 (p

Вступление. Учитывая актуальность комплексной оценки эффективности лучевой терапии (ЛТ) при медуллобластомах мозжечка у взрослых больных, изучены особенности гистоструктуры лечебного патоморфоза в ткани таких опухолей после ЛТ. Материалы и методы. В сравнительном аспекте исследована гистоструктура медуллобластом у 24 взрослых больных до и после проведения ЛТ на материале биопсии во время первой и повторной операций. Результаты . На основании оценки степени выраженности клеточно-тканевых изменений в медуллобластомах у взрослых больных, которым после операции проведена ЛТ, установлены различия индивидуальной чувствительности к ней большинства из них. Выводы. Проведение после операции стандартного курса ЛТ по поводу медуллобластом у взрослых больных индуцирует в ткани большинства «леченых» опухолей цитостатический и цитодеструктивный эффект, что коррелирует с увеличением продолжительности безрецидивного периода.

Вступление. Метформин, известный как препарат для лечения сахарного диабета, сегодня достаточно широко используют в онкологии в качестве средства, тормозящего рост различных злокачественных опухолей в экспериментах на животных. Его влияние на опухоли головного мозга не изучено.Материалы и методы. Противоопухолевое действие метформина изучено у крыс с глиомой 101.8, которым вводили метформин изолированно или в сочетании с химиопрепаратами цисплатином или доксорубицином. У животных с глиомой мозга определяли продолжительность жизни, рассчитывали среднюю продолжительность жизни для каждой группы крыс.Результаты. В эксперименте изучено прямое и комбинированное влияние метформина на опухоли мозга у крыс. Установлено, что метформин, введенный в дозе 50–150 мг/кг массы тела животных, не тормозил рост глиомы мозга; введенный вместе с цисплатином или доксорубицином — тормозил рост глиомы значительно чаще, чем при отдельном введении этих препаратов.Выводы. На основе анализа результатов экспериментального исследования рекомендовано использование метформина в нейроонкологической клинике при лечении злокачественных глиом головного мозга., Introduction. Metformin, known as medicine for diabetes mellitus treatment, today is widely studied in oncology as drug for suppressing growth of different malignant tumors in experiments on animals.Materials and methods. Metformin’s untitumor effect was studied on rats with glioma 101.8, treated with metformin or it’s combination with chemomedicines cisplatin or doxorubicin. The duration of animals’ life with brain glioma and it’s average rate in each group of rats were determined.Results. The direct and combined influence of metformin on rats’ brain tumor was studied in experiment. It was determined that metformin in doses 50–150 mg/kg not influence on the growth of brain glioma. Metformin an injection with cisplatin or doxorubicin more often suppressed glioma’s growth then used separately.Conclusion. On the base of experiments’ results analysis the use of metformin is recommended in neurooncology clinic during malignant gliomas treatment., Вступ. Метформін, відомий як препарат для лікування цукрового діабету, сьогодні досить широко вивчають в онкології як засіб, що гальмує ріст різних злоякісних пухлин в експериментах на тваринах. Вплив препарату на пухлини головного мозку не вивчений .Матеріали і методи. Протипухлину дію метформіну вивчали у щурів з гліомою 101.8, у яких застосовували метформін ізольовано або в поєднанні з хіміопрепаратами цисплатином чи доксорубіцином. У тварин з гліомою мозку визначали тривалість життя, обчислювали середню тривалість життя у кожній групі щурів.Результати. В експерименті вивчений прямий та комбінований вплив метформіну на пухлини мозку у щурів. Встановлено, що метформін, введений в дозі 50–150 мг/кг маси тіла тварин, не гальмував ріст гліоми мозку; введений разом з цисплатином або доксорубіцином, гальмував ріст гліоми значно частіше, ніж при окремому введені цих препаратів.Висновки. На основі аналізу результатів цих експериментів рекомендоване використання метформіну в нейроонкологічній клініці під час лікування злоякісних гліом мозку.

To evaluate expression patterns of protein product of putative tumor suppressor gene TSC-22 in human astrocytic tumors by immunohistochemical approach.Plasmid pET-23d-TSC22 was constructed for the expression of human TSC-22 protein in bacterial system, and polyclonal rabbit antibodies against recombinant TSC-22 were produced. Immunohistochemical analysis of TSC-22 and GFAP expression with the use of anti-human-TSC-22- and anti-human-GFAP-antibodies was performed on histological slides of astrocytic tumors.Immunohistochemical analysis has shown that the number of cells expressing TSC-22 was significantly lower in glioblastoma tissues than that in diffuse astrocytoma. Double immunohistochemical staining of astrocytic tumors using anti-human-TSC-2- and anti-human-GFAP-antibodies showed that both TSC-22 and GFAP expression is co-localized in astrocytes.TSC-22 protein is expressed in astrocytes, but not in macrophage/microglial cells. In more aggressive forms of astrocytic tumors decreased expression of TSC-22 mRNA correlates with its lowered expression on protein level.

Simulation model of open penetrating wound of a spinal cord (SC) with its durable com- pression by biocompatible foreign body, was tasted. Experimental animals - mature male rats (inbred line, descendent from a Wistar breed); the trauma simulation model - a left- sided transsection of the SC half on the Txi level; experimental groups: the main (a SC trau- ma + homotopic implantation of microporous hydrogel fragment - foreign body [n=10]), groups of comparison (the SC trauma [n=16]; the SC trauma + homotopic implantation of chemically identical analogue of hydrogel - NeuroGelTM [n=20]). A SC compression by a foreign body worsens the regeneration process course essentially: during first 2 mo the function index of a hind ipsilateral extremity in experimental animals of the main group was the lowest in the experiment - (1.30 ? 0.94) points in accordance to BBB scale, during 3 - 4 mo - the function index had enhanced trustworthy - up to (2.35 ? 0.95) points in accor- dance to BBB scale, what is connected with lowering of a local pressure on a SC tissue due to change of the foreign body form and volume. In 24 weeks the function index of hind ipsi- lateral extremity had constituted (8.45 ? 0.92) points - while application of NeuroGeTM and (2.35 ? 0.95) points - of the foreign body; the tissue processes in the implants localization zone had differed essentially. The tasted simulation model reproduces satisfactory a mechanical component of the foreign body impact on a SC tissue. The SC compression reduction, even in a late follow-up period, had improved the conditions and results of recenerative process essentially.