Gender differences in vaccine therapy: where are we in Covid-19 pandemic?

Vaccination is one of the greatest achievements of public health. Vaccination programs have contributed to the decline in mortality and morbidity of various infectious diseases. This review aims to investigate the impact of sex/gender on the vaccine acceptance, responses, and outcomes. The studies were identified by using PubMed, until 30th June 2020. The search was performed by using the following keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19, gender, sex, vaccine, adverse reaction. Clinical trials, retrospective and prospective studies were included. Studies written in languages other than English were excluded. Three authors (TC, EB and IA) reviewed all study abstracts. Studies were included if gender differences in response to vaccination trials were reported. All selected studies were qualitatively analyzed. Innate recognition and response to viruses, as well as, adaptive immune responses during viral infections, differ between females and males. Unfortunately, a majority of vaccine trials have focused on healthy people, with ages between 18 to 65 years, excluding the elderly, pregnant women, post-menopausal female and children. In conclusion, it is apparent that the design of vaccines and vaccine strategies should be sex-specific, to reduce adverse reactions in females and increase immunogenicity in males. It should be mandatory to examine sex-related variables in pre-clinical and clinical vaccine trials, such as their crucial role for successful prevention of pandemic Covid-19

Le malattie respiratorie nell'ottica di genere

Introduzione I. Ambrosino, E. Barbagelata Differenze di genere nello sviluppo embrionale, nell’anatomia, nella fisiologia e nella patologia dell’apparato respiratorio E. Barbagelata, I. Ambrosino Le principali malattie respiratorie in ottica di genere dall’epidemiologia alla diagnosi e alla terapia: asma T. Ciarambino, O. Para, I. Ronga Le principali malattie respiratorie in ottica di genere dall’epidemiologia alla diagnosi e alla terapia: broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva S. Mangiacapra Le principali malattie respiratorie in ottica di genere dall’epidemiologia alla diagnosi e alla terapia: polmoniti T.M. Attardo Le principali malattie respiratorie in ottica di genere dall’epidemiologia alla diagnosi e alla terapia: tromboembolia polmonare M. Porru, P. Pitto Le principali malattie respiratorie in ottica di genere dall’epidemiologia alla diagnosi e alla terapia: versamento pleurico C. Zaninetti, C. Tana Come una società scientifica può diffondere la cultura di genere? P. Gnerre, C. Politi, A. Fontanell

Sismotectónica, radón, ambiente

Las características sismotectónicas, geológicas e hidrogeológicas de la porción norte de la Provincia de Mendoza, en particular de los Distritos El Resguardo y Capdeville (Departamento Las Heras), son potencialmente favorables para la ocurrencia de concentraciones relativamente elevadas del gas radiactivo (de origen natural) Radón.Se presentan algunos resultados de las mediciones realizadas en el área de estudio, en el marco del Proyecto Sismotectónica – Radón – Ambiente (SPU-UNCuyo 4250).Fil: Mingorance, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Ibáñez, Sandra. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Rovira, Susana. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Chirino, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Quiroga, María C.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Sebok, Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Barbagelata, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Arreghini, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingenierí

The ischemic preconditioning effect of adenosine in patients with ischemic heart disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>In vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>evidence suggests that adenosine and its agonists play key roles in the process of ischemic preconditioning. The effects of low-dose adenosine infusion on ischemic preconditioning have not been thoroughly studied in humans.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>We hypothesised that a low-dose adenosine infusion could reduce the ischemic burden evoked by physical exercise and improve the regional left ventricular (LV) systolic function.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We studied nine severely symptomatic male patients with severe coronary artery disease. Myocardial ischemia was induced by exercise on two separate occasions and quantified by Tissue Doppler Echocardiography. Prior to the exercise test, intravenous low-dose adenosine or placebo was infused over ten minutes according to a randomized, double blind, cross-over protocol. The LV walls were defined as ischemic if a reduction, no increment, or an increment of < 15% in peak systolic velocity (PSV) was observed during maximal exercise compared to the baseline values observed prior to placebo-infusion. Otherwise, the LV walls were defined as non-ischemic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PSV increased from baseline to maximal exercise in non-ischemic walls both during placebo (<it>P </it>= 0.0001) and low-dose adenosine infusion (<it>P </it>= 0.0009). However, in the ischemic walls, PSV increased only during low-dose adenosine infusion <it>(P </it>= 0.001), while no changes in PSV occurred during placebo infusion (<it>P </it>= NS).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low-dose adenosine infusion reduced the ischemic burden and improved LV regional systolic function in the ischemic walls of patients with exercise-induced myocardial ischemia, confirming that adenosine is a potential preconditioning agent in humans.</p

Randomized elimination and prolongation of ACE inhibitors and ARBs in coronavirus 2019 (REPLACE COVID) Trial Protocol

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV- 2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), is associated with high incidence of multiorgan dysfunction and death. Angiotensin- converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which facilitates SARS- CoV- 2 host cell entry, may be impacted by angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), two commonly used antihypertensive classes. In a multicenter, international randomized controlled trial that began enrollment on March 31, 2020, participants are randomized to continuation vs withdrawal of their long- term outpatient ACEI or ARB upon hospitalization with COVID- 19. The primary outcome is a hierarchical global rank score incorporating time to death, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of renal replacement or vasopressor therapy, and multiorgan dysfunction severity. Approval for the study has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board of each participating institution, and all participants will provide informed consent. A data safety monitoring board has been assembled to provide independent oversight of the project.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163400/2/jch14011_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163400/1/jch14011.pd

Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

&lt;p&gt;Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate &#60;60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.&lt;/p&gt

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase mutations cause primary adrenal insufficiency and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

Primary adrenal insufficiency is life threatening and can present alone or in combination with other comorbidities. Here, we have described a primary adrenal insufficiency syndrome and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome caused by loss-of-function mutations in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1). SGPL1 executes the final decisive step of the sphingolipid breakdown pathway, mediating the irreversible cleavage of the lipid-signaling molecule sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Mutations in other upstream components of the pathway lead to harmful accumulation of lysosomal sphingolipid species, which are associated with a series of conditions known as the sphingolipidoses. In this work, we have identified 4 different homozygous mutations, c.665G>A (p.R222Q), c.1633_1635delTTC (p.F545del), c.261+1G>A (p.S65Rfs*6), and c.7dupA (p.S3Kfs*11), in 5 families with the condition. In total, 8 patients were investigated, some of whom also manifested other features, including ichthyosis, primary hypothyroidism, neurological symptoms, and cryptorchidism. Sgpl1-/- mice recapitulated the main characteristics of the human disease with abnormal adrenal and renal morphology. Sgpl1-/- mice displayed disrupted adrenocortical zonation and defective expression of steroidogenic enzymes as well as renal histology in keeping with a glomerular phenotype. In summary, we have identified SGPL1 mutations in humans that perhaps represent a distinct multisystemic disorder of sphingolipid metabolism

Estimation des mouvements de deux mobiles dans un plan à partir de mesures bruitées et échantillonnées

Particularisant le problème général de recherche de la trajectoire d'un mobile sur lequel on ne dispose que d'informations de position incomplètes et bruitées et dont les évolutions, inconnues à priori présentent un caractère aléatoire, cette étude repose sur les faits que le mobile inconnu évolue dans un plan et que l'observation s'effectue à partir d'un autre mobile de même classe, c'est-à-dire ayant des évolutions de même nature. La résolution du problème nécessite donc une modélisation stochastique discrète du processus et la détermination d'une trajectoire estimée par un filtre en temps discret de Kalman Bucy. En analysant les hypothèses intervenant dans les caractérisations des mouvements, des bruits et des observations, on élabore d'abord une modélisation non linéaire du processus, pour des évolutions en x et en y corrélées dans le plan absolu. L'estimation en temps réel du vecteur d'état - donc de la trajectoire - par un filtre non linéaire discret, tronqué à l'ordre 2 est rendue opérationnelle par l'établissement d'une relation bijective entre le plan Azimut-Distance, quadrillé en mailles élémentaires et les surfaces représentatives des composantes du gain du filtre dans l'espace (Gain, Azimut, Distance). Pour chaque position prédite du mobile, l'appel des valeurs précalculées correspondantes du gain permet une diminution du temps de calcul dans le déroulement en temps réel de la procédure de recherche. Cette procédure est appliquée aux configurations des mouvements de deux navires, dans l'hypothèse d'un mouvement linéaire pour le mobile inconnu

Hemorragia subdural crónica

The challenge for labour market policy in the new member states and other transition economies of Eastern Europe has been to redress the sharp drops in employment and rises in unemployment in a way that fosters the creation of productive jobs. This paper first documents the magnitude and productivity of job and worker reallocation. It then investigates the effects of privatisation, product and labour market liberalisation, and obstacles to growth in the new private sector o