Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials.

BACKGROUND: The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the UK regulatory authority, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with a regimen of two standard doses given with an interval of 4-12 weeks. The planned roll-out in the UK will involve vaccinating people in high-risk categories with their first dose immediately, and delivering the second dose 12 weeks later. Here, we provide both a further prespecified pooled analysis of trials of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and exploratory analyses of the impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of extending the interval between priming and booster doses. In addition, we show the immunogenicity and protection afforded by the first dose, before a booster dose has been offered. METHODS: We present data from three single-blind randomised controlled trials-one phase 1/2 study in the UK (COV001), one phase 2/3 study in the UK (COV002), and a phase 3 study in Brazil (COV003)-and one double-blind phase 1/2 study in South Africa (COV005). As previously described, individuals 18 years and older were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive two standard doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (5 × 1010 viral particles) or a control vaccine or saline placebo. In the UK trial, a subset of participants received a lower dose (2·2 × 1010 viral particles) of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 for the first dose. The primary outcome was virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 disease, defined as a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-positive swab combined with at least one qualifying symptom (fever ≥37·8°C, cough, shortness of breath, or anosmia or ageusia) more than 14 days after the second dose. Secondary efficacy analyses included cases occuring at least 22 days after the first dose. Antibody responses measured by immunoassay and by pseudovirus neutralisation were exploratory outcomes. All cases of COVID-19 with a NAAT-positive swab were adjudicated for inclusion in the analysis by a masked independent endpoint review committee. The primary analysis included all participants who were SARS-CoV-2 N protein seronegative at baseline, had had at least 14 days of follow-up after the second dose, and had no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection from NAAT swabs. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose. The four trials are registered at ISRCTN89951424 (COV003) and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606 (COV001), NCT04400838 (COV002), and NCT04444674 (COV005). FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Dec 6, 2020, 24 422 participants were recruited and vaccinated across the four studies, of whom 17 178 were included in the primary analysis (8597 receiving ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and 8581 receiving control vaccine). The data cutoff for these analyses was Dec 7, 2020. 332 NAAT-positive infections met the primary endpoint of symptomatic infection more than 14 days after the second dose. Overall vaccine efficacy more than 14 days after the second dose was 66·7% (95% CI 57·4-74·0), with 84 (1·0%) cases in the 8597 participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 248 (2·9%) in the 8581 participants in the control group. There were no hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group after the initial 21-day exclusion period, and 15 in the control group. 108 (0·9%) of 12 282 participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 127 (1·1%) of 11 962 participants in the control group had serious adverse events. There were seven deaths considered unrelated to vaccination (two in the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 group and five in the control group), including one COVID-19-related death in one participant in the control group. Exploratory analyses showed that vaccine efficacy after a single standard dose of vaccine from day 22 to day 90 after vaccination was 76·0% (59·3-85·9). Our modelling analysis indicated that protection did not wane during this initial 3-month period. Similarly, antibody levels were maintained during this period with minimal waning by day 90 (geometric mean ratio [GMR] 0·66 [95% CI 0·59-0·74]). In the participants who received two standard doses, after the second dose, efficacy was higher in those with a longer prime-boost interval (vaccine efficacy 81·3% [95% CI 60·3-91·2] at ≥12 weeks) than in those with a short interval (vaccine efficacy 55·1% [33·0-69·9] at <6 weeks). These observations are supported by immunogenicity data that showed binding antibody responses more than two-fold higher after an interval of 12 or more weeks compared with an interval of less than 6 weeks in those who were aged 18-55 years (GMR 2·32 [2·01-2·68]). INTERPRETATION: The results of this primary analysis of two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were consistent with those seen in the interim analysis of the trials and confirm that the vaccine is efficacious, with results varying by dose interval in exploratory analyses. A 3-month dose interval might have advantages over a programme with a short dose interval for roll-out of a pandemic vaccine to protect the largest number of individuals in the population as early as possible when supplies are scarce, while also improving protection after receiving a second dose. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR), The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, the Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Differente Hirnaktivierungen durch Bilder mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt bei adipösen und normalgewichtigen Kindern und Jugendlichen

Studien mit bildgebenden Verfahren zeigen bei adipösen im Vergleich zu normalgewichtigen Erwachsenen unterschiedliche Aktivierungen in präfrontalen, limbischen und paralimbischen Regionen, sowie in den Basalganglien. Es gibt jedoch bislang keine entsprechenden Daten für adipöse und normalgewichtige Kinder und Jugendliche. Ziel dieser Studie war es, Unterschiede in den durch Bilder mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt aktivierten Hirnregionen von adipösen und normalgewichtigen Kindern herauszufinden. Hierfür wurden 22 adipöse und 22 normalgewichtige Kinder (Durchschnittsalter: 13,5 Jahre) mit der funktionellen Magnetresonanztomographie (fMRT) untersucht. Während die Kinder Bilder mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt, emotional positive und emotional neutrale Bilder sahen, wurden die Hirnaktivität und die Herzrate gemessen. Zusätzlich wurden psychologische Daten erhoben. Adipöse Kinder wiesen bei Betrachtung der Bilder mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt eine signifikant stärkere Aktivierung des dorsolateralen präfrontalen Kortex (DLPFC) auf als die normalgewichtigen Kinder. Je stärker diese DLPFC-Aktivierung war, umso niedriger war das Selbstwertgefühl der Kinder. Im Gegensatz dazu wiesen normalgewichtige Kinder bei den Bildern mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt eine signifikant stärkere Aktivierung des Nucleus caudatus und des Hippocampus auf. Bei allen Stimuli zeigten sie eine stärkere Aktivierung des anterioren Cingulums (ACC) und des Thalamus als die adipösen Kinder. Adipöse Kinder zeigten bei den Bildern mit nahrungsbezogenem Inhalt eine verminderte Herzratendezeleration und somit eine abgeschwächte autonome Orientierungsreaktion. Die Intensität der autonomen Orientierungsreaktion korrelierte positiv mit der Aktivierung des orbitofrontalen Kortex (OFC). Aus unseren Ergebnissen lässt sich folgern, dass adipöse Kinder auf visuelle Nahrungsreize mit verstärkten präfrontalen inhibitorischen Kontroll-mechanismen reagieren. Hierdurch werden die Regulation der Nahrungsaufnahme und das Essverhalten gestört, was zur Entstehung der Adipositas beitragen könnte.Recent imaging studies on obesity yield different patterns of brain activation in response to food cues in prefrontal and limbic/paralimbic areas and basal ganglia in obese compared to normal weight adult subjects. For children no functional imaging studies comparing brain activation by food stimuli of obese and normal-weight subjects are available. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in brain activation between obese and normal-weight children in response to visual food cues. Twenty-two obese and twenty-two normal-weight children (average age 13.5 years) were included in our functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Brain activity and heart rate were measured during viewing food, pleasant, and neutral pictures. Additionally, psychological data were collected. Obese children showed significantly higher activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) than normal-weight children in response to pictures of food. Additionally, DLPFC activation was significant negatively correlated with self-esteem. In contrast, normal-weight children showed significantly higher activation of the caudate and hippocampus specific to food pictures, and of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus to visual cues. Obese children showed a general decrease of autonomic response to food stimuli, as determined by heart rate deceleration. This autonomic response correlated positively with activation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In conclusion, obese children react to food cues with a high inhibitory control. This might disturb food intake regulation and eating behavior, thus contributing to obesity

Concordance between culture, Molecular Culture and Illumina 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of bone and ulcer bed biopsies in people with diabetic foot osteomyelitis

Abstract Background In clinical practice the diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) relies on cultures of bone or ulcer bed (UB) biopsies, of which bone biopsy is reference standard. The slow growth or fastidious nature of some bacteria, hamper expeditious detection and identification. Rapid molecular techniques may solve both issues, but their additional value for everyday practice is unknown. We investigated the concordance between conventional culture, the molecular techniques Molecular Culture (MC), and illumina 16S rRNA gene amplicon (16S) sequencing in people with DFO. Methods In the BeBoP trial, bone and UB biopsies were obtained from people with DFO who visited Amsterdam UMC. These biopsies were analysed using 1) conventional culture, 2)MC, a rapid broad range PCR analysing the 16S-23S ribosomal-interspace-region, and 3) 16S sequencing, and evaluated concordance among these techniques. Results We analysed 20 samples (11 bone and 9 UB) of 18 people. A total of 84 infectious agents were identified, 45 (54%) by all techniques, an additional 22 (26.5%, overall 80.5%) by both MC and 16S, and the remaining 16 species by culture and MC or 16S, or by a single method only. MC and 16S identified anaerobes not detected by culturing in 5 samples, and the presence of bacteria in 7 of 8 culture-negative (6 bone, 2 UB) samples. Conclusion The high level of concordance between MC and 16S and the additional ability of molecular techniques to detect various bacteria not detected by culturing opens up prospects for routine use of fast molecular techniques, in clinical settings including DFO. Trial registration The BeBoP trial is retrospectively registered on 05–03-2019 in Netherlands Trial Register: NL 7582

Partial Loss of USP9X Function Leads to a Male Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Disorder Converging on Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling

Background: The X-chromosome gene USP9X encodes a deubiquitylating enzyme that has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders primarily in female subjects. USP9X escapes X inactivation, and in female subjects de novo heterozygous copy number loss or truncating mutations cause haploinsufficiency culminating in a recognizable syndrome with intellectual disability and signature brain and congenital abnormalities. In contrast, the involvement of USP9X in male neurodevelopmental disorders remains tentative. Methods: We used clinically recommended guidelines to collect and interrogate the pathogenicity of 44 USP9X variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in males. Functional studies in patient-derived cell lines and mice were used to determine mechanisms of pathology. Results: Twelve missense variants showed strong evidence of pathogenicity. We define a characteristic phenotype of the central nervous system (white matter disturbances, thin corpus callosum, and widened ventricles); global delay with significant alteration of speech, language, and behavior; hypotonia; joint hypermobility; visual system defects; and other common congenital and dysmorphic features. Comparison of in silico and phenotypical features align additional variants of unknown significance with likely pathogenicity. In support of partial loss-of-function mechanisms, using patient-derived cell lines, we show loss of only specific USP9X substrates that regulate neurodevelopmental signaling pathways and a united defect in transforming growth factor β signaling. In addition, we find correlates of the male phenotype in Usp9x brain-specific knockout mice, and further resolve loss of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the involvement of USP9X variants in a distinctive neurodevelopmental and behavioral syndrome in male subjects and identify plausible mechanisms of pathogenesis centered on disrupted transforming growth factor β signaling and hippocampal function