RBD-specific polyclonal F(ab´)2 fragments of equine antibodies in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive phase 2/3 clinical trial

Background: passive immunotherapy is a therapeutic alternative for patients with COVID-19. Equine polyclonal antibodies (EpAbs) could represent a source of scalable neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess efficacy and safety of EpAbs (INM005) in hospitalized adult patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia in 19 hospitals of Argentina. Primary endpoint was improvement in at least two categories in WHO ordinal clinical scale at day 28 or hospital discharge (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04494984). Findings: between August 1st and October 26th, 2020, a total of 245 patients were enrolled. Enrolled patients were assigned to receive two blinded doses of INM005 (n = 118) or placebo (n = 123). Median age was 54 years old, 65 1% were male and 61% had moderate disease at baseline. Median time from symptoms onset to study treatment was 6 days (interquartile range 5 to 8). No statistically significant difference was noted between study groups on primary endpoint (risk difference [95% IC]: 5 28% [-3 95; 14 50]; p = 0 15). Rate of improvement in at least two categories was statistically significantly higher for INM005 at days 14 and 21 of follow-up. Time to improvement in two ordinal categories or hospital discharge was 14 2 (§ 0 7) days in the INM005 group and 16 3 (§ 0 7) days in the placebo group, hazard ratio 1 31 (95% CI 1 0 to 1 74). Subgroup analyses showed a beneficial effect of INM005 over severe patients and in those with negative baseline antibodies. Overall mortality was 6 9% the INM005 group and 11 4% in the placebo group (risk difference [95% IC]: 0 57 [0 24 to 1 37]). Adverse events of special interest were mild or moderate; no anaphylaxis was reported. Interpretation: Albeit not having reached the primary endpoint, we found clinical improvement of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, particularly those with severe disease.Fil: Lopardo, Gustavo. Municipalidad de Vicente Lopez (buenos Aires). Hospital Municipal Doctor Bernardo Houssay.; ArgentinaFil: Belloso, Waldo H.. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Nannini, Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Colonna, Mariana. Inmunova; ArgentinaFil: Sanguineti, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Inmunova; ArgentinaFil: Zylberman, Vanesa. Inmunova; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Luciana. Inmunova; ArgentinaFil: Dobarro, Martín. Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón; ArgentinaFil: Lebersztein, Gabriel. Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón; ArgentinaFil: Farina, Javier. Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Alta Complejidad Cuenca Alta Doctor Nestor Carlos Kirchner.; ArgentinaFil: Vidiella, Gabriela. Sanatorio Agote. Dr. Luis Agote; ArgentinaFil: Bertetti, Anselmo. Sanatorio Guemes Sociedad Anonima.; ArgentinaFil: Crudo, Favio. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco; ArgentinaFil: Alzogaray, Maria Fernanda. Instituto Medico Platense.; ArgentinaFil: Barcelona, Laura. Municipalidad de Vicente Lopez (buenos Aires). Hospital Municipal Doctor Bernardo Houssay.; ArgentinaFil: Teijeiro, Ricardo. Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Ignacio Pirovano; ArgentinaFil: Lambert, Sandra. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic; ArgentinaFil: Scublinsky, Darío. Clinica Zabala.; ArgentinaFil: Iacono, Marisa. Provincia del Neuquen. Hospital Provincial Neuquen "dr. E. Castro Rendon"; ArgentinaFil: Stanek, Vanina. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Solari, Rubén. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: Cruz, Pablo. No especifíca;Fil: Casas, Marcelo Martín. Clinica Adventista Belgrano; ArgentinaFil: Abusamra, Lorena. Hospital Municipal Dr. Diego Thompson; ArgentinaFil: Luciardi, Héctor Lucas. Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Hosp. Centro de Salud "zenon Santillan"; ArgentinaFil: Cremona, Alberto. Hospital Italiano de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Caruso, Diego. Hospital Español; ArgentinaFil: de Miguel, Bernardo. No especifíca;Fil: Perez Lloret, Santiago. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; Argentina. Universidad Abierta Interamericana. Secretaría de Investigación. Centro de Altos Estudios En Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud - Sede Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Millán, Susana. No especifíca;Fil: Kilstein, Yael. No especifíca;Fil: Pereiro, Ana. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Sued, Omar. Fundación Huésped; ArgentinaFil: Cahn, Pedro. Fundación Huésped; ArgentinaFil: Spatz, Linus. Inmunova; ArgentinaFil: Goldbaum, Fernando Alberto. Inmunova; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; Argentin

Práticas Educomunicativas

Esta publicação pretende divulgar as práticas educomunicativas realizadas em diferentes regiões do país e que estão sendo implantadas por nossos associados. O e-book Práticas Educomunicativas, que visa oferecer um material de uso prático que possa servir de apoio pedagógico em diferentes contextos, escolar ou de ações junto a instituições, apresenta 20 artigos de profissionais e pesquisadores que implementam ações que inter-relacionam comunicação e educação no contexto da educação apontando as experiências e processos de educomunicação e valorizando desta forma, o trabalho realizado por cada educomunicador oferecendo, ao leitor, um material de uso prático que possa servir de apoio pedagógico em diferentes contextos

Guaraná (Paullinia cupana) improves the proliferation and oxidative metabolism of senescent adipocyte stem cells derived from human lipoaspirates

AbstractCellular senescence is a limiting factor in the proliferative expansion and quality of adult mesenchymal stem cells, often making them unviable in regenerative clinical practice. In vitro supplementation by antioxidant food extract of senescent mesenchymal stem cells could reverse these undesirable characteristics. To evaluate this hypothesis, senescent adipocyte-mesenchymal cells (ASCs) obtained from human lipoaspirates were exposed at different concentrations of hydro-alcoholic guaraná (Paullinia cupana) extract for 72h. After the incubation, we performed a proliferative assay. Oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant enzymes (biochemical activity and gene expression by qRT-PCR analysis) in these senescent cells were also evaluated. In senescent cells exposed to guaraná at 5mg/g concentration increased cellular proliferation occurred compared to untreated senescent cells (79.1±15.7%). Concomitantly, a decrease in several oxidative stress indicators was observed in senescent cells treated with guaraná. A genomic effect of guaraná exposure was observed when the modulation of antioxidant enzymes genes was analyzed. The results described here suggest that the food extract supplementation could reverse the initial senescence processes in ASCs. These results have potential application in regenerative medicine

Performance of direct immunofluorescence assay for the detection of human metapneumovirus under clinical laboratory settings

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emergent human respiratory pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) to detect hMPV in a clinical laboratory setting. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples (448) of children and adults with respiratory illness were used to detect hMPV by using DIF and real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. RESULTS: In all, 36 (8%) samples were positive by DIF and 94 (21%) were positive by qRT-PCR. Direct immunofluorescence specificity was 99% and sensitivity was 38%. CONCLUSIONS: DIF is not very sensitive under clinical laboratory settings

Xanthine-Catechin Mixture Enhances Lithium-Induced Anti-Inflammatory Response in Activated Macrophages In Vitro

Lithium (Li) is a chemical element used for treating and preventing bipolar disorder (BD) and exerts positive effects such as anti-inflammatory effects as well as undesirable side effects. These effects of Li can be influenced by interaction with some nutritional elements. Therefore, we investigated the potential effects of xanthine (caffeine and theobromine) and catechin molecules present in some food beverages broadly consumed worldwide, such as coffee and tea, on Li-induced anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we concomitantly exposed RAW 264.7 macrophages to Li, isolated xanthine and catechin molecules, and a xanthine-catechin mixture (XC mixture). We evaluated the effects of these treatments on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, oxidative and antioxidant marker expression, cytokine levels, gene expression, and GSK-3β enzyme expression. Treatment with the XC mixture potentialized Li-induced anti-inflammatory effects by intensification of the following: GSK-3β inhibitory action, lowering effect on proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), and increase in the levels of IL-10 that is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Despite the controversial nature of caffeine consumption by BD patients, these results suggested that consumption of caffeine, in low concentrations, mixed with other bioactive molecules along with Li may be safe

Xanthine-Catechin Mixture Enhances Lithium-Induced Anti-Inflammatory Response in Activated Macrophages In Vitro

Lithium (Li) is a chemical element used for treating and preventing bipolar disorder (BD) and exerts positive effects such as anti-inflammatory effects as well as undesirable side effects. These effects of Li can be influenced by interaction with some nutritional elements. Therefore, we investigated the potential effects of xanthine (caffeine and theobromine) and catechin molecules present in some food beverages broadly consumed worldwide, such as coffee and tea, on Li-induced anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we concomitantly exposed RAW 264.7 macrophages to Li, isolated xanthine and catechin molecules, and a xanthine-catechin mixture (XC mixture). We evaluated the effects of these treatments on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, oxidative and antioxidant marker expression, cytokine levels, gene expression, and GSK-3β enzyme expression. Treatment with the XC mixture potentialized Li-induced anti-inflammatory effects by intensification of the following: GSK-3β inhibitory action, lowering effect on proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), and increase in the levels of IL-10 that is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Despite the controversial nature of caffeine consumption by BD patients, these results suggested that consumption of caffeine, in low concentrations, mixed with other bioactive molecules along with Li may be safe