The Effect of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Infection on Humoral and Cellular Immunity in a Cohort of Patients with Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Pilot Study

Immunization against COVID-19 is needed in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). However, data on long-term immunity kinetics remain scarce. This study aimed to compare the humoral and cellular response to COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) compared to healthy controls. We compared the humoral and cellular response to SARS-Cov-2 elicited by vaccination and/or infection in a prospective cohort of 20 IMID patients compared with a group of 21 healthcare workers (HCWs). We assessed immunity before and after the third and fourth dose of BNT162b2 or after COVID-19 infection using quantitative IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibody (anti-S-IgG), neutralization assay, and specific interferon-gamma (IFN-g) release assay (IGRA). The responses were compared with those of healthy controls. The two groups were similar in age and total exposure, becoming infected for the first time, mainly after the third dose. Neutralizing antibodies and IGRA were negative in 9.5% of IMID patients but not in any HCWs. No significant difference was found between neutralization titers to BA.1 in the IMID and the HCW groups. The study highlights the SARS-CoV-2 immunological responses in healthy controls and IMID patients, suggesting that the combined stimuli of vaccination and infection in IMID patients could promote a more profound immunological response

High Prevalence of Long COVID in Common Variable Immunodeficiency:An Italian Multicentric Study

The long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection represent a relevant global health problem. Long COVID (LC) is defined as a complex of signs and symptoms developed during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection and lasting &gt; 12 weeks. In common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients, we previously reported higher risk of hospitalization and death during SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as prolonged swab positivity and frequent reinfections. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of LC in an Italian cohort of CVID patients. We used a translated version of the survey proposed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect data on LC. In the enrolled cohort of 175 CVID patients, we found a high prevalence of LC (65.7%). The most frequent LC symptoms were fatigue (75.7%), arthralgia/myalgia (48.7%), and dyspnea (41.7%). The majority of patients (60%) experienced prolonged symptoms, for at least 6 months after infection. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of complicated phenotype (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.88-5.03; p = 0.015), obesity (OR 11.17, 95% CI 1.37-90.95; p = 0.024), and female sex (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.09-3.89; p = 0.024) significantly correlated with the development of LC. In conclusion, in this multicenter observational cohort study, we demonstrated that CVID patients present an increased prevalence of LC when compared to the general population. Improved awareness on the risk of LC in CVID patients could optimize management of this new and alarming complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p

High Prevalence of Long COVID in Common Variable Immunodeficiency:An Italian Multicentric Study

The long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection represent a relevant global health problem. Long COVID (LC) is defined as a complex of signs and symptoms developed during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection and lasting &gt; 12 weeks. In common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients, we previously reported higher risk of hospitalization and death during SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as prolonged swab positivity and frequent reinfections. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of LC in an Italian cohort of CVID patients. We used a translated version of the survey proposed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect data on LC. In the enrolled cohort of 175 CVID patients, we found a high prevalence of LC (65.7%). The most frequent LC symptoms were fatigue (75.7%), arthralgia/myalgia (48.7%), and dyspnea (41.7%). The majority of patients (60%) experienced prolonged symptoms, for at least 6 months after infection. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of complicated phenotype (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.88-5.03; p = 0.015), obesity (OR 11.17, 95% CI 1.37-90.95; p = 0.024), and female sex (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.09-3.89; p = 0.024) significantly correlated with the development of LC. In conclusion, in this multicenter observational cohort study, we demonstrated that CVID patients present an increased prevalence of LC when compared to the general population. Improved awareness on the risk of LC in CVID patients could optimize management of this new and alarming complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P &lt; .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Structure–activity relationships in cytotoxic Au^I/Au^III complexes derived from 2-(2′-Pyridyl)benzimidazole

Gold(I) and gold(III) complexes derived from 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pbiH) were proven to be a promising class of in vitro antitumor agents against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells. In this paper, a comparative electrochemical, UV&#8212;vis absorption, and emission spectroscopic investigation is reported on pbiH, the two mononuclear AuIII complexes [(pbi)AuX2] (X = Cl (1), AcO (2)), the four mononuclear AuI derivatives [(pbiH)AuCl] (3), [(pbiH)Au(PPh3)]PF6 ((4+)(PF6–)), [(pbi)Au(PPh3)] (5), and [(pbi)Au(TPA)] (6), the three mixed-valence AuIII/AuI complexes [(&#956;-pbi)Au2Cl3] (7), [(Ph3P)Au([(&#956;-pbi)AuX2]PF6 (X = Cl ((8+)(PF6–)), AcO ((9&lt;7+)(PF6–))), and the binuclear AuI&#8212;AuI compound [([(&#956;-pbi)Au2(PPh3)2]PF6 ((10+)(PF6–)). All complexes feature irreversible reduction processes related to the AuIII/AuI or AuI/Au0 processes and peculiar luminescent emission at about 360–370 nm in CH2Cl2, with quantum yields that are remarkably lower ((0.7–14.5) &#215; 10–2) in comparison to that determined for the free pbiH ligand (31.5 &#215; 10–2) in the same solvent. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of all complexes were interpreted on the grounds of time-dependent PBE0/DFT calculations carried out both in the gas phase and in CH2Cl2 implicitly considered within the IEF-PCM SCRF approach. The electronic structure of the complexes, and in particular the energy and composition of the Kohn&#8212;Sham LUMOs, can be related to the antiproliferative properties against the A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line, providing sound quantitative structure–activity relationships and shedding a light on the role played by the global charge and nature of ancillary ligands in the effectiveness of Au-based antitumor drugs

meox sba 15 me zn fe highly efficient nanosorbents for mid temperature h2s removal

Novel MeOx/SBA-15 (Me = Zn, Fe) nanosorbents exhibiting an excellent and durable performance for the H2S removal from hot gas streams

Structure-Activity Relationships in Cytotoxic AuI/AuIII Complexes Derived from 2-(2′-Pyridyl)benzimidazole

Gold(I) and gold(III) complexes derived from 2-(2′-pyridyl)-benzimidazole (pbiH) were proven to be a promising class of in vitro antitumor agents against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells. In this paper, a comparative electrochemical, UV−vis absorption, and emission spectroscopic investigation is reported on pbiH, the two mononuclear AuIII complexes [(pbi)AuX2] (X = Cl (1), AcO (2)), the four mononuclear AuI derivatives [(pbiH)AuCl] (3), [(pbiH)Au-(PPh3)]PF6 ((4+)(PF6−)), [(pbi)Au(PPh3)] (5), and (pbi)Au(TPA)] (6), the three mixed-valence AuIII/AuI complexes [(μ-pbi)Au2Cl3] (7), [(Ph3P)Au(μ-pbi)AuX2]PF6(X = Cl ((8+)(PF6−)), AcO ((9+)(PF6−))), and the binuclear AuI−AuI compound [(μ-pbi)Au2(PPh3)2]PF6 ((10+)(PF6 −)). All complexes feature irreversible reduction processes related to the AuIII/AuI or AuI/Au0 processes and peculiar luminescent emission at about 360−370 nm in CH2Cl2, with quantum yields that are remarkably lower ((0.7−14.5) × 10−2) in comparison to that determined for the free pbiH ligand (31.5 × 10−2) in the same solvent. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of all complexes were interpreted on the grounds of time-dependent PBE0/DFT calculations carried out both in the gas phase and in CH2Cl2 implicitly considered within the IEF-PCM SCRF approach. The electronic structure of the complexes, and in particular the energy and composition of the Kohn−Sham LUMOs, can be related to the antiproliferative properties against the A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line, providing sound quantitative structure−activity relationships and shedding a light on the role played by the global charge and nature of ancillary ligands in the effectiveness of Au-based antitumor drugs

Structural tailoring of the NIR-absorption of bis(1,2-dichalcogenolene) Ni/Pt electrochromophores deriving from 1,3-dimethyl-2-chalcogenoxo-imidazoline-4,5-dichalcogenolates

The choice of the metal ion M and the terminal Y and donor X chalcogen species (M = Ni, Pt; and X, Y = S, Se) in square-planar complexes deriving from 1,3-dimethyl-2-chalcogenoxo-imidazoline-4,5-dichalcogenolates allows fine-tuning of both the redox stability and the energy of the particularly intense NIR electrochromic absorption, thanks to the subtle contribution of M, X, and Y to the relevant frontier molecular orbitals, investigated at the IEF-PCM DFT and TD-DFT level

Structure–Activity Relationships in Cytotoxic Au^I/Au^III Complexes Derived from 2‑(2′-Pyridyl)benzimidazole

Gold­(I) and gold­(III) complexes derived from 2-(2′-pyridyl)­benzimidazole (pbiH) were proven to be a promising class of in vitro antitumor agents against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells. In this paper, a comparative electrochemical, UV–vis absorption, and emission spectroscopic investigation is reported on pbiH, the two mononuclear Au^III complexes [(pbi)­AuX₂] (X = Cl (<b>1</b>), AcO (<b>2</b>)), the four mononuclear Au^I derivatives [(pbiH)­AuCl] (<b>3</b>), [(pbiH)­Au­(PPh₃)]­PF₆ ((<b>4</b>⁺)­(PF₆^–)), [(pbi)­Au­(PPh₃)] (<b>5</b>), and [(pbi)­Au­(TPA)] (<b>6</b>), the three mixed-valence Au^III/Au^I complexes [(μ-pbi)­Au₂Cl₃] (<b>7</b>), [(Ph₃P)­Au­(μ-pbi)­AuX₂]­PF₆ (X = Cl ((<b>8</b>⁺)­(PF₆^–)), AcO ((<b>9</b>⁺)­(PF₆^–))), and the binuclear Au^I–Au^I compound [(μ-pbi)­Au₂(PPh₃)₂]­PF₆ ((<b>10</b>⁺)­(PF₆^–)). All complexes feature irreversible reduction processes related to the Au^III/Au^I or Au^I/Au⁰ processes and peculiar luminescent emission at about 360–370 nm in CH₂Cl₂, with quantum yields that are remarkably lower ((0.7–14.5) × 10^–2) in comparison to that determined for the free pbiH ligand (31.5 × 10^–2) in the same solvent. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of all complexes were interpreted on the grounds of time-dependent PBE0/DFT calculations carried out both in the gas phase and in CH₂Cl₂ implicitly considered within the IEF-PCM SCRF approach. The electronic structure of the complexes, and in particular the energy and composition of the Kohn–Sham LUMOs, can be related to the antiproliferative properties against the A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line, providing sound quantitative structure–activity relationships and shedding a light on the role played by the global charge and nature of ancillary ligands in the effectiveness of Au-based antitumor drugs