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Objectives: Scarce data are currently available on the kinetics of antibodies after vaccination with mRNA vaccines as a whole and, with mRNA-1273, in particular. We report here an ad-interim analysis of data obtained after a 6-month follow-up in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) who received the mRNA-1273 vaccine. These new data provide more insight into whether and in whom a 3rd dose could be necessary. Methods: Our study compared the anti-S antibody kinetics at 2 weeks (T1), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T4) after the first injection, and 2 weeks after the second injection (T2). The 201 participating HCWs were stratified according to their initial serological status. The vaccine effectiveness was also assessed through a medical questionnaire. Results: We report here a marked and statistically significant antibody decrease (P < 0.05) between T3 and T4, especially in naïve vaccinees. The analysis of potential confounding factors or known risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease did not reveal any influence on the drop observed. Six-month after vaccination, only one, symptomatic, infection was reported in our cohort. Conclusions: In a supply-limited environment, our results plead for reserving the 3rd dose scheme, in the upcoming months, to seronegative individuals prior to vaccination, especially when the serological status is easily accessible.

To describe the outcomes of sickle-cell disease in pregnancy according to the different treatments adopted before and during pregnancy and to propose a systematic approach to treat sickle-cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy.A retrospective descriptive study compared pregnancy outcomes among women with SCD who stopped hydroxyurea (HU) once pregnant (Group 1), were never treated before and during pregnancy (Group 2) or were treated by HU before conception who received prophylactic transfusion during pregnancy (Group 3). For each group we recorded the population's characteristics and the transfusion-related, obstetrical, perinatal and SCD complications.We found 11 patients for group 1 (9/11 with at least 3 painful crises during the 12 months before conception), 4 for group 2 (3/4 with no sickle-cell complications during the year before pregnancy) and 2 for group 3 (one with previous multiorgan failure (MOF), one with previous stroke). No transfusion-related complication occurred. Group 1 and 2 developed SCD complications and a high number of acute transfusions and hospital admissions. Group 3 showed none of these complications, but one patient developed preeclampsia and preterm birth. Several obstetrical and perinatal complications occurred in group 1.Not treating sickle-cell during pregnancy increases maternal and perinatal morbidity, even in mildly affected women. All sickle-cell pregnancies should be treated, according to the treatment adopted before but also to patient's SCD-history. We propose chronic transfusion to women with previous stroke or MOF or already under transfusion program, and HU for severely and mildly affected patients, respectively from the second and third trimesters. Additional prospective studies are needed to validate the results of the proposed protocol.

SCOPUS: le.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Introduction The STA R Max® 2 is a new coagulation analyser developed by Diagnostica Stago, able to perform clotting, chromogenic and immuno-turbidimetric tests. A pre-analytical module build into the cap-piercing needle performs the sample integrity verification (sample tube filling and measurement of haemolysis, icterus, lipaemia). The STA R Max® 2 analyser incorporates an accreditation program tools to assist technical validation of the analyser. We assessed the analytical performance of the STA R Max® 2. Materials and methods The following tests were assessed: prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen, factor V (FV), antithrombin (AT), D-dimers (DDI) and von Willebrand factor antigen. The assay precisions were assessed using fresh plasma samples or internal quality controls. An inter-analyser comparison was performed with a STA-R Evolution® analyser or, for the FV, with a BCS® XP System. Haemolysis and icterus detection were also verified. Results For the intra-assay precision, the coefficients of variation (CV%) were all less than 5% and for DDI, the standard deviation (SD) was less than 0.1. For the inter-assay study, all CV% were less than 5%, with the exception of FV and AT (FV: 6.68% and 5.27%; AT: 7% and 12.14% for normal and pathological values, respectively). SD was less than 0.1 for DDI. The inter-analyser comparison demonstrated good results. Haemolysis and icterus were detected correctly for all our assessed samples. Conclusion According to our methods validation's recommendations, the results demonstrated a good technical and analytical performance of the STA R Max® 2 analysers for the tests assessed.

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

More and more rapid antigen tests for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appear in the market with varying performance. The sensitivity of these tests heavily depends on the viral load, extrapolated by the threshold cycle (Ct). It is therefore essential to verify their performance before their inclusion in routine. The Coronavirus Ag Rapid Test Cassette Bio-Rad, the GSD NovaGen SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Antigen Rapid Test, and the Aegle Coronavirus Ag Rapid Test Cassette were evaluated on 199 samples: 150 fresh samples from the routine and positive in quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), nine fresh samples negative in RT-qPCR, and 40 frozen samples, taken before the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 but positive for other respiratory viruses. Positive RT-qPCR samples were categorized according to their Ct: Ct < 20 (18.7%), ≥ 20–< 25 (27.3%), ≥ 25–< 30 (18.7%), ≥ 30–35 (17.3%), and > 35 (18.0%). Sensitivities (95% confidence interval) for Ct below 25 were 95.7% (92.4–98.9), 97.1% (94.4–99.8), and 97.1% (94.4–99.8) for GSD NovaGen, Bio-Rad, and Aegle, respectively but drastically dropped when Ct exceeded 27. Among samples with previously diagnosed viruses, seven false-positive results were found with GSD NovaGen only (specificity 85.7%). Equivalent, high sensitivities were observed with the highest viral load samples. The GSD NovaGen assay showed less specificity. Although the three kits tested in this study are inadequate for routine testing in a high throughput laboratory, they can help to quickly identify the most infectious patients and screen their close contacts in an environment where molecular tests are not readily available., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGL) are chronic lymphoproliferative disorders classified into three main groups: T-cell LGL leukemia (T-LGL), aggressive NK-cell leukemia and chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells (NK-LGL). Patients with LGL leukemia exhibit chronic (>3 months) and moderate (

Introduction: Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) worldwide, it is important to monitor local epidemiology to better understand the occurrence of clusters, reinfections, or infection after vaccination. Detecting mutations by specific RT-qPCR is a rapid and affordable alternative to sequencing. However, care must be taken to ensure that the techniques used are up-to-date and adapted to the variants circulating in the studied population. Material and methods: All samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were screened for detection of mutations of the spike protein using the Novaplex™ SARS-CoV-2 Variants I Assay from week 11 of 2021. Target sought were deletion H69/V70 and mutations N501Y and E484 K. From week 18 we used in addition the new Novaplex™ SARS-CoV-2 Variants II Assay for samples with no targets found with the Variants I assay or with the mutation E484 K alone, in order to screen the mutations L452R, K417 N/T and W152C. Results: Between weeks 11 and 25, 2239 positive samples out of 54,317 were tested with the Variants I Assay. Between weeks 18 and 25, 94 samples met the criteria for being tested with the Variants II Assay. Of these, 47 had the L452R mutation without the W152C mutation, typical in the B.1.617 variant. At week 25, this profile was found in 45.5 % of the samples and was the most frequent. Conclusion: According to our observations, variant B.1.617 has become predominant in our institution and most probably in our region. In the absence of the use of the Variants II Assay, they would have been considered wild., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGL) are chronic lymphoproliferative disorders classified into three main groups: T-cell LGL leukemia (T-LGL), aggressive NK-cell leukemia and chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells (NK-LGL). Patients with LGL leukemia exhibit chronic (3 months) and moderate (1G/L) to substantial monoclonal expansion of large granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Cytologically, large granular lymphocytes are medium to large cells which are further characterized by an eccentric nucleus and a slightly basophilic cytoplasm containing azurophilic granules. Typically, T-LGL (CD3-and mostly CD8

Today, mini implants represent an additional choice for patients and surgeons. They are largely used as anchorage when a severely resorbed mandible is to be rehabilitated with an overdenture, their major advantages being flapless, painless surgery and easy placement in thin alveolar crests without any split-crest or bone-grafting procedure. Unfortunately, the literature provides little information on histomorphometric analysis of immediately loaded mini implants placed in the posterior region of the human mandible. The aim of the present in vivo research is to carry out a histologic evaluation of the bone surrounding 2 mini implants placed in human mandible and immediately loaded with an overdenture after 12 weeks. A patient who underwent extraction of 14 periodontally compromised teeth was selected for the present study. After the extractions, 2 mini implants with ball attachment were placed in sites 19 and 30. Mini implants were immediately loaded with a temporary immediate overdenture. Three months after the extractions, the mini implants were harvested and processed for light and scanning electron microscopy. The bone-to-implant contact and the percentage of bone between the threads of the screw were, respectively, 86.3% and 72.6% for the right implant and 69.8% and 71.9 % for the left implant. Newly formed bone between the implant surface and the preexisting bone was present, with poorly represented medullary spaces. Under a scanning electron microscope it was possible to appreciate the presence of well-organized, newly formed lamellar bone with osteons in the areas near the implant body. From the present in vivo report it is possible to state that immediate load applied on mini implants, placed into the posterior regions of the mandible, leads to a clinically and histologically effective osseointegration.