Could seasonal Influenza virus vaccine reduce the risk and severity Of SARS-CoV-2 infection? - The first Egyptian experience

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious public health issue worldwide. A safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a crucial measure to control the current pandemic. Many efforts have been devoted to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. However, the mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines has a negative impact on the willingness to receive the vaccine. Because of the cross-reactivity between influenza and coronaviruses, influenza immunization may be useful in preventing COVID-19 infection. Aim: Assessing the association between seasonal influenza virus vaccination and the acquisition and severity of COVID-19 in Egyptian individuals. Methods: This was an observational retrospective cohort study that included sixty participants who were classified into two equal groups based on their influenza virus vaccination status (vaccinated or not). The primary outcome was the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and the secondary outcome was the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Results: Among the unvaccinated group (n=17/30, 56.7%) had a COVID-19 infection compared to (n=8/30, 26.7%) in the vaccinated group (p < /em> value =0.02). The calculated OR was 3.6. Regarding the severity of COVID-19 infection, 11 individuals in the unvaccinated group (n=11/17, 64.7%) developed mild infection, (n=5/17, 29.4%) got moderate illness and (n=1/17, 5.9%) developed severe disease whereas (n=6/8, 75%) individuals in the vaccinated group had mild infection and (n=2/8, 25%) developed illness of moderate intensity (p < /em> value =0.7). Conclusion: Seasonal influenza virus vaccine seems to have a protective role against the acquisition of COVID-19 infection but does not reduce the severity of the disease

Chitosan as an antimicrobial compound : Modes of action and resistance mechanisms

Chitosan, a polysaccharide biopolymer, combines a group of physicochemical and biological characteristics, which allow for a wide range of applications. In this study, we investigated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of chitosan. Our goals were to (i) identify factors influencing its antimicrobial activity and study its interaction with bacterial systems; (ii) explore possible mechanisms of its action against staphylococci; as well as (iii) discover potential resistance mechanisms developed by bacteria against this compound. Chitosan exhibited an adequate strain- and dose-dependent in vitro growth-inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Its activity was influenced by a number of factors, including its chain length, culture medium and the presence of metal ions. Chitosan’s ability to flocculate bacterial cells was clearly evidenced; on the other hand, its anti-biofilm property was only partly documented. Although several bacteria were capable of degrading chitosan, this did not influence their susceptibility to the antimicrobial activity of this biopolymer. Our study demonstrated that the site of action of chitosan is at the microbial cell envelope, but we do contend that there probably is not a single classical target that would explain its antimicrobial action. The cationic nature of chitosan plays a pivotal role in its antimicrobial activity, allowing its interaction with the anionic cell surface polymers, which leads to a generalized destabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane and subsequent disruption of membrane function. A simultaneous permeabilization of the physically intact cell membrane to small cellular components was detected, coupled with a significant membrane depolarization. Analysis of transcriptional response data revealed that chitosan treatment lead to multiple changes in the expression profile of S. aureus SG511 genes involved in the regulation of stress and autolysis, as well as genes associated with energy metabolism, resulting in impairment of oxygen consumption and forcing cells to shift to anaerobic respiration. Several pathways via which staphylococci may develop resistance against chitosan have been recognized, including: (i) increased positive surface charge resulting in reduced chitosan binding, (ii) modest increase in hydrophobicity; (iii) enhanced production of cell wall polymers; and (iv) elevated levels of positively-charged membrane lipids, thus increasing electrostatic cell surface repulsion of chitosan. There is still much to be learned, but a stage has been reached at which it is becoming possible to present a general account of the main processes involved in chitosan’s antimicrobial activity in terms of basic molecular findings

The incidence of moderate and severe COVID-19 at Zagazig University Hospitals: A single center experience in Egypt

Background:  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a paramount public health issue. The true statistics about COVID-19 in Egypt are veiled. Aim: To determine the incidence rate of moderate and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection among the patients seeking admission to Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUH), Egypt based on the chest Computed Tomography (CT) COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) radiological criteria. Methods: All patients aged ≥ 18 years old seeking admission to ZUH between January 1st and March 31st, 2021, were eligible for enrollment in the study if they performed non-enhanced chest CT. Assessment of clinical, laboratory, and chest CT CO-RADS radiological criteria for each patient was carried out. The patients were defined to have moderate or severe COVID-19 if they met CO-RADS 4 or 5 radiological criteria, respectively, in association with the clinical and/or laboratory criteria. Results: A total of 5549 subjects were enrolled in the study. The total number of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases diagnosed at ZUH during January 2021 was 434/1827 with a monthly incidence rate of 23.75; 95% CI (21.9-25.8) per 100.000 of the population. The total number of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases during February 2021 was 215/1622 with a monthly incidence rate of 13.25; 95% CI (11.7-15). During March, the total number of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases was 416/2100 with a monthly incidence rate of 19.8; 95% CI (18.2-21.6). Conclusion: The incidence rate of moderate and severe COVID-19 infection at ZUH is in parallel with the national COVID-19 incidence reports

EVALUATION OF PHENOLIC CONTENT, ANTIRADICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ORANGE AND CARROT POMACE EXTRACTS

Orange and carrot pomace are considered as food wastes, despite their high content in beneficial health compounds. The comparison of phenolic extracts from orange and carrot pomace, showed higher values for Orange pomace, with a polyphenols concentration (130 mg/L), flavonoids (8.67 mg/L) and tannins (2.5 mg/L). A higher antiradical activity was also noted for orange pomace. However, carrot pomace presented a higher anti-bacterial activity. The beneficial activities of these extracts were owed to their high content in phenolic acids. Our study exhibited that orange and carrot pomace might be utilized as natural preservatives for many industrial applications

Generalised and Versatile Connected Health Solution on the Zynq SoC

This chapter presents a generalized and versatile connected health solution for patient monitoring. It consists of a mobile system that can be used at home, an ambulance and a hospital. The system uses the Shimmer sensor device to collect three axes (x, y and z) accelerometer data as well as electrocardiogram signals. The accelerometer data is used to implement a fall detection system using the k-Nearest Neighbors classifier. The classification algorithm is implemented on various platform including a PC and the Zynq system on chip platform where both programmable logic and processing system of the Zynq are explored. In addition, the electrocardiogram signals are used to extract vital information, the signals are also encrypted using the Advanced Encryption Standard and sent wirelessly using Wi-Fi for further processing. Implementation results have shown that the best overall accuracy reaches 90% for the fall detection while meeting real-time performances when implemented on the Zynq and while using only 48% of Look-up Tables and 22% of Flip-Flops available on chip

Antibody Production in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis—Kinetics and Key Players

Although antigen-specific priming of antibody responses is impaired during sepsis, there is nevertheless a strong increase in IgM and IgG serum concentrations. Using colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP), a mouse model of polymicrobial abdominal sepsis, we observed substantial increases in IgM as well as IgG of all subclasses, starting at day 3 and peaking 2 weeks after sepsis induction. The dominant source of antibody-secreting cells was by far the spleen, with a minor contribution of the mesenteric lymph nodes. Remarkably, sepsis induction in splenectomized mice did not change the dynamics of the serum IgM/IgG reaction, indicating that the marginal zone B cells, which almost exclusively reside in the spleen, are dispensable in such a setting. Hence, in systemic bacterial infection, the function of the spleen as dominant niche of antibody-producing cells can be compensated by extra-splenic B cell populations as well as other lymphoid organs. Depletion of CD4+ T cells did not affect the IgM response, while it impaired IgG generation of all subclasses with the exception of IgG3. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the robust class-switched antibody response in sepsis encompasses both T cell-dependent and -independent components

Adiponectin: an adipocyte-derived hormone, and its gene encoding in children with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and inflammation is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Adiponectin (ADPN) is an adipocytokine that may have significant anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Low adiponectin levels have previously been found in patients with high risk for CVD. METHODS: On seventy eight advanced CKD (stages 4 and 5) pediatric patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis( MHD) or conservative treatment (CT) the following parameters were studied: body mass index, left ventricular mass index(LVMI), serum adiponectin , cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP),interleukin 6(IL6) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADIPOQ gene at positions 45, and 276. Seventy age-and gender-matched healthy subjects served as control subjects. RESULTS: Markedly (P = 0.01) elevated plasma adiponectin levels were observed in CKD patients, especially CT patients, compared to control subjects. The wild type of ADIPOQ 45T > G (T) allele is the main gene for patients and controls. MHD and CT patients had significantly higher frequency of the TT genotypes of +276G > T gene (P = 0.04) compared with control subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between plasma adiponectin and IL6 level, whereas negative correlations were found between adiponectin level, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and hs CRP. In a stepwise backward multiple regression model only IL6 (P = 0.001) was independently associated with plasma adiponectin levels. The adiponectin gene the 276 GT+TT genotypes were associated with a higher level of adiponectin . CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that ADPN is related to several metabolic and inflammatory CV risk factors in a manner consistent with the hypothesis that this protein might have a protective role against these factors. We observed an association between the +276G>T SNP in the adiponectin gene and CKD in children. Genetic variation of +276 gene seemed to have a positive impact on circulating adiponectin levels in CKD patients

Oxidation-Specific Epitopes (OSEs) Dominate the B Cell Response in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis

In murine abdominal sepsis by colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP), a strong increase in serum IgM and IgG antibodies was observed, which reached maximum values 14 days following sepsis induction. The specificity of this antibody response was studied in serum and at the single cell level using a broad panel of bacterial, sepsis-unrelated as well as self-antigens. Whereas an antibacterial IgM/IgG response was rarely observed, studies at the single-cell level revealed that IgM antibodies, in particular, were largely polyreactive. Interestingly, at least 16% of the IgM mAbs and 20% of the IgG mAbs derived from post-septic mice showed specificity for oxidation-specific epitopes (OSEs), which are known targets of the innate/adaptive immune response. This identifies those self-antigens as the main target of B cell responses in sepsis

Non-cross-reactive epitopes dominate the humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccination – kinetics of plasma antibodies, plasmablasts and memory B cells

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in inducing protective immunity. While the serum antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination has been studied in depth, our knowledge of the underlying plasmablast and memory B cell (Bmem) responses is still incomplete. Here, we determined the antibody and B cell response to COVID-19 vaccination in a naïve population and contrasted it with the response to a single influenza vaccination in a primed cohort. In addition, we analyzed the antibody and B cell responses against the four endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs). Methods: Measurement of specific plasma IgG antibodies was combined with functional analyses of antibody-secreting plasmablasts and Bmems. SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-specific IgG antibodies were quantified with an in-house bead-based multiplexed immunoassay. Results: The antibody and B cell responses to COVID-19 vaccination reflected the kinetics of a prime-boost immunization, characterized by a slow and moderate primary response and a faster and stronger secondary response. In contrast, the influenza vaccinees possessed robust immune memory for the vaccine antigens prior to vaccination, and the recall vaccination moderately boosted antibody production and Bmem responses. Antibody levels and Bmem responses waned several months after the 2nd COVID-19 vaccination, but were restored upon the 3rd vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibodies mainly targeted novel, non-cross-reactive S1 epitopes of the viral spike protein, while cross-reactive S2 epitopes were less immunogenic. Booster vaccination not only strongly enhanced neutralizing antibodies against an original SARS-CoV-2 strain, but also induced neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron BA.2 variant. We observed a 100% plasma antibody prevalence against the S1 subunits of HCoVs, which was not affected by vaccination. Discussion: Overall, by complementing classical serology with a functional evaluation of plasmablasts and memory B cells we provide new insights into the specificity of COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody and B cell responses.Peer Reviewe

Allelic Discrimination of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Controlled Study

(1) Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the rapidly growing healthcare problems, and several vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms seem to modulate the risk of T2DM. Our research was designed to investigate the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphisms and T2DM occurrence risk. (2) Methods: This case-control research included 156 patients with T2DM and 145 healthy control subjects. Most of the study population were males 56.6% vs. 62.8% in the case and control groups, respectively. Genotyping for VDR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs228570 (Fok1), rs7975232 (Apa1), and rs1544410 (Bsm1) was compared between both groups. (3) Results: There was a negative link between vitamin D levels and insulin sensitivity. A significant difference was noted in the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphism rs228570 and rs1544410 between the study groups (p \u3c 0.001). No difference was observed in the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphism rs7975232 between the groups (p = 0.063). Moreover, T2DM patients had significantly higher levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin HbA1c, 2-h post-prandial blood sugar (PP), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), total cholesterol, and triglycerides (p \u3c 0.001), while High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly decreased (p = 0.006). (4) Conclusions: VDR polymorphisms had a positive association with T2DM risk among the Egyptian population. Further large-scale research using deep sequencing of samples is strongly urged to investigate different vitamin D gene variants and interactions, as well as the influence of vitamin D on T2DM