Efficacy and safety of a booster dose of influenza vaccination in solid organ transplant recipients, TRANSGRIPE 1-2: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Despite administration of annual influenza vaccination, influenza-associated complications in transplant recipients continue to be an important cause of hospitalization and death. Although influenza vaccination has been proven to be the most effective measure to reduce influenza infection after transplantation, transplant recipients are still vulnerable to influenza infections, with lower serological responses to vaccination compared to the general population. In order to assess the efficacy and safety of an alternative immunization scheme for solid organ transplant recipients, the TRANSGRIPE1-2 Study Group aimed to test a booster dose administration 5 weeks after the standard vaccination. The primary objective of this trial was to compare short-term and long-term neutralizing antibody immunogenicity of a booster dose of influenza vaccination to the standard single-dose immunization scheme. Secondary objectives included the evaluation of the efficacy and/or safety, cellular immune response, incidence of influenza infection, graft rejection, retransplant and mortality rates. METHODS/DESIGN: This phase III, randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial was conducted between October 2012 and December 2013 in 12 Spanish public referral hospitals. Solid organ transplant recipients (liver, kidney, heart or lung), older than 16 years of age more than 30 days after transplantation were eligible to participate. Patients (N = 514) were stratified 1:1 by center, type of organ and time after transplantation and who either received the standard single dose (n = 257) or were treated according to a novel influenza vaccination schedule comprising the administration of a booster dose 5 weeks after standard vaccination (n = 254). Seroconversion rates were measured as a determinant of protection against influenza (main outcome). Efficacy and safety outcomes were followed until 1 year after influenza vaccination with assessment of short-term (0, 5, 10 and 15 weeks) and long-term (12 months) results. Intention-to-treat, per-protocol and safety analyses will be performed. DISCUSSION: This trial will increase knowledge about the safety and efficacy of a booster dose of influenza vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. At the time the manuscript was submitted for publication, trial recruitment was closed with a total of 499 participants included during a 2-month period (within the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01761435 (registered 13 December 2012). EudraCT Identifier: 2011-003243-21 (registered 4 July 2011)

Successful development and clinical translation of a novel anterior lamellar artificial cornea

We thank the Andalusian Public Foundation Progress and Health, through the Andalusian Initiative for Advanced Therapies, for assuming the roles and responsibilities of sponsoring this clinical trial. We thank Dr. Manuel de la Rosa and Dr. Salvador Arias Santiago for providing insight and expertise that assisted the research.The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public repository, ref. GSE86584 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE86584Blindness due to corneal diseases is a common pathology affecting up to 23 million individuals worldwide. The tissue‐engineered anterior human cornea, which is currently being tested in a Phase I/II clinical trial to treat severe corneal trophic ulcers with preliminary good feasibility and safety results. This bioartificial cornea is based on a nanostructured fibrin–agarose biomaterial containing human allogeneic stromal keratocytes and cornea epithelial cells, mimicking the human native anterior cornea in terms of optical, mechanical, and biological behavior. This product is manufactured as a clinical‐grade tissue engineering product, fulfilling European requirements and regulations. The clinical translation process included several phases: an initial in vitro and in vivo preclinical research plan, including preclinical advice from the Spanish Medicines Agency followed by additional preclinical development, the adaptation of the biofabrication protocols to a good manufacturing practice manufacturing process, including all quality controls required, and the design of an advanced therapy clinical trial. The experimental development and successful translation of advanced therapy medicinal products for clinical application has to overcome many obstacles, especially when undertaken by academia or SMEs. We expect that our experience and research strategy may help future researchers to efficiently transfer their preclinical results into the clinical settings.This study was supported by the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (I + D + I) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Carlos III Institute of Health), grants FIS PI14/0955 and FIS PI17/0391 (both cofinanced by ERDF‐FEDER, European Union); by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equity, grant EC10‐285; and by preclinical research funds from the Regional Ministry of Health through the Andalusian Initiative for Advanced Therapies

Caracterización molecular del sistema SOS de halotolerancia de Arabidopsis thaliana y de su homólogo en Orzya sativa

176 páginas.-- 29 figuras.-- 4 tablas.-- 306 referencias1. El mecanismo de activación del antiportador Na+/H+ de Arabidopsis SOS1 por la kinasa AtSOS2 consiste en la fosforilación del residuo de serina en la posición 1138, aunque la serina 1136 forma parte del dominio de reconocimiento y es esencial para fosforilación del extremo carboxiterminal de la proteína SOS1. La sustitución de una o ambas dianas de fosforilación por residuos no fosforilables de alanina incapacita a dicho dominio para su reconocimiento y fosforilación por SOS2 y genera una proteína SOS1 con una actividad antiportadora Na+/H+ basal normal pero que no puede ser activada por SOS2. 2. El sistema SOS de halotolerancia descrito previamente en la especie dicotiledónea Arabidopsis thaliana está conservado en la especie monocotiledónea Oryza sativa y cada uno de los miembros que lo conforman presenta una homología tal en ambos organismos, arroz y Arabidopsis, que los hace funcionalmente intercambiables entre sí. La proteína de arroz, OsSOS1, codificada por el locus Os12g44360 en el cromosoma XII es el homólogo funcional del antiportador Na+/H+ de Arabidopsis AtSOS1. Los genes de arroz OsCIPK24 y OsCBL4 son respectivamente los homólogos funcionales de la proteín kinasa SOS2 y del sensor de calcio SOS3 de Arabidospsis thaliana.Peer reviewe

Caracterización molecular del sistema SOS de halotolerancia de Arabidopsis thaliana y de su homólogo en Oryza sativa

176 páginas.-- 29 figuras.-- 4 tablas.-- 310 referencias.-- Tesis presentada para optar a la licenciatura de farmacia.N

Conservation of the Salt Overly Sensitive Pathway in Rice

The salt tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa) correlates with the ability to exclude Na(+) from the shoot and to maintain a low cellular Na(+)/K(+) ratio. We have identified a rice plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) exchanger that, on the basis of genetic and biochemical criteria, is the functional homolog of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) salt overly sensitive 1 (SOS1) protein. The rice transporter, denoted by OsSOS1, demonstrated a capacity for Na(+)/H(+) exchange in plasma membrane vesicles of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells and reduced their net cellular Na(+) content. The Arabidopsis protein kinase complex SOS2/SOS3, which positively controls the activity of AtSOS1, phosphorylated OsSOS1 and stimulated its activity in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, OsSOS1 suppressed the salt sensitivity of a sos1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis. These results represent the first molecular and biochemical characterization of a Na(+) efflux protein from monocots. Putative rice homologs of the Arabidopsis protein kinase SOS2 and its Ca(2+)-dependent activator SOS3 were identified also. OsCIPK24 and OsCBL4 acted coordinately to activate OsSOS1 in yeast cells and they could be exchanged with their Arabidopsis counterpart to form heterologous protein kinase modules that activated both OsSOS1 and AtSOS1 and suppressed the salt sensitivity of sos2 and sos3 mutants of Arabidopsis. These results demonstrate that the SOS salt tolerance pathway operates in cereals and evidences a high degree of structural conservation among the SOS proteins from dicots and monocots

A study protocol for a multicentre randomised clinical trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of a bioengineered human allogeneic nanostructured anterior cornea in patients with advanced corneal trophic ulcers refractory to conventional treatment

Introduction: There is a need to find alternatives to the use of human donor corneas in transplants because of the limited availability of donor organs, the incidence of graft complications, as well as the inability to successfully perform corneal transplant in patients presenting limbal deficiency, neo-vascularized or thin corneas, etc. We have designed a clinical trial to test a nanostructured fibrin-agarose corneal substitute combining allogeneic cells that mimics the anterior human native cornea in terms of optical, mechanical and biological behaviour. Methods and analysis This is a phase I-II, randomised, controlled, open-label clinical trial, currently ongoing in ten Spanish hospitals, to evaluate the safety and feasibility, as well as clinical efficacy evidence, of this bioengineered human corneal substitute in adults with severe trophic corneal ulcers refractory to conventional treatment, or with sequelae of previous ulcers. In the initial phase of the trial (n=5), patients were sequentially recruited, with a safety period of 45 days, receiving the bioengineered corneal graft. In the second phase of the trial (currently ongoing), subjects are block randomised (2:1) to receive either the corneal graft (n=10), or amniotic membrane (n=5), as the control treatment. Adverse events, implant status, infection signs and induced neovascularization are evaluated as determinants of safety and feasibility of the bioengineered graft (main outcomes). Study endpoints are measured along a follow-up period of 24 months, including 27 post-implant assessment visits according to a decreasing frequency. Intention to treat, and per protocol, and safety analysis will be performed. Ethics and dissemination The trial protocol received written approval by the corresponding Ethics Committee and the Spanish Regulatory Authority and is currently recruiting subjects. On completion of the trial, manuscripts with the results of phases I and II of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration CT.gov identifier: NCT01765244 (Jan2013). EudraCT number: 2010-024290-40 (Dec2012)

Successful restoration of corneal surface integrity with a tissue-engineered allogeneic implant in severe keratitis patients

Objectives: Corneal diseases are among the main causes of blindness, with approximately 4.6 and 23 million patients worldwide suffering from bilateral and unilateral corneal blindness, respectively. The standard treatment for severe corneal diseases is corneal transplantation. However, relevant disadvantages, particularly in high-risk conditions, have focused the attention on the search for alternatives. Methods: We report interim findings of a phase I-II clinical study evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of a tissue-engineered corneal substitute composed of a nanostructured fibrin-agarose biocompatible scaffold combined with allogeneic corneal epithelial and stromal cells (NANOULCOR). 5 subjects (5 eyes) suffering from trophic corneal ulcers refractory to conventional treatments, who combined stromal degradation or fibrosis and limbal stem cell deficiency, were included and treated with this allogeneic anterior corneal substitute. Results: The implant completely covered the corneal surface, and ocular surface inflammation decreased following surgery. Only four adverse reactions were registered, and none of them were severe. No detachment, ulcer relapse nor surgical re-interventions were registered after 2 years of follow-up. No signs of graft rejection, local infection or corneal neovascularization were observed either. Efficacy was measured as a significant postoperative improvement in terms of the eye complication grading scales. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography images revealed a more homogeneous and stable ocular surface, with complete scaffold degradation occurring within 3–12 weeks after surgery. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the surgical application of this allogeneic anterior human corneal substitute is feasible and safe, showing partial efficacy in the restoration of the corneal surface

Mesenchymal stromal cells in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients with discordant immune response: Early results of a phase I/II clinical trial

Between 15% and 30% of HIV‐infected subjects fail to increase their CD4+ T‐cell counts despite continuous viral suppression (immunological nonresponders [INRs]). These subjects have a higher morbidity and mortality rate, but there are no effective treatments to reverse this situation so far. This study used data from an interrupted phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate safety and immune recovery after INRs were given four infusions, at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 20, with human allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells from adipose tissue (Ad‐MSCs). Based on the study design, the first 5 out of 15 INRs recruited received unblinded Ad‐MSC infusions. They had a median CD4+ nadir count of 16/μL (range, 2‐180) and CD4+ count of 253 cells per microliter (171‐412) at baseline after 109 (54‐237) months on antiretroviral treatment and 69 (52‐91) months of continuous undetectable plasma HIV‐RNA. After a year of follow‐up, an independent committee recommended the suspension of the study because no increase of CD4+ T‐cell counts or CD4+/CD8+ ratios was observed. There were also no significant changes in the phenotype of different immunological lymphocyte subsets, percentages of natural killer cells, regulatory T cells, and dendritic cells, the inflammatory parameters analyzed, and cellular associated HIV‐DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, three subjects suffered venous thrombosis events directly related to the Ad‐MSC infusions in the arms where the infusions were performed. Although the current study is based on a small sample of participants, the findings suggest that allogeneic Ad‐MSC infusions are not effective to improve immune recovery in INR patients or to reduce immune activation or inflammation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0229004. EudraCT number: 2014‐000307‐26.Andalusian Network for the Design and Translation of Advanced Therapies; Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health and Families, Grant/Award Number: 201600073585‐tra; Red de Investigación en SIDA, Grant/Award Number: RD16/0025/0020‐ISCIII‐FEDER; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Number: PI15/01041

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for evaluating the efficacy of intracoronary injection of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells in the improvement of the ventricular function in patients with idiopathic dilated myocardiopathy: a study protocol

Background Cellular therapies have been increasingly applied to diverse human diseases. Intracoronary infusion of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMNC) has demonstrated to improve ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction. However, less information is available about the role of BMMNC therapy for the treatment of dilated myocardiopathies (DCs) of non-ischemic origin. This article presents the methodological description of a study aimed at investigating the efficacy of intracoronary injection of autologous BMMNCs in the improvement of the ventricular function of patients with DC. Methods This randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase IIb clinical trial compares the improvement on ventricular function (measured by the changes on the ejection fraction) of patients receiving the conventional treatment for DC in combination with a single dose of an intracoronary infusion of BMMNCs, with the functional recovery of patients receiving placebo plus conventional treatment. Patients assigned to both treatment groups are monitored for 24 months. This clinical trial is powered enough to detect a change in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) equal to or greater than 9%, although an interim analysis is planned to re-calculate sample size. Discussion The study protocol was approved by the Andalusian Coordinating Ethics Committee for Biomedical Research (Comité Coordinador de Ética en Investigación Biomédica de Andalucia), the Spanish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios), and is registered at the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT: 2013–002015-98). The publication of the trial results in scientific journals will be performed in accordance with the applicable regulations and guidelines to clinical trials. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02033278 (First Posted January 10, 2014): https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02033278; EudraCT number: 2013–002015-98, EU CT Register: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2013-002015-98. Trial results will also be published according to the CONSORT statement at conferences and reported peer-reviewed journals.This paper presents an investigator-driven Clinical trial partially funded by research grant provided by the Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia (Grant Reference Number salud-201600073587-tra).Ye

Efficacy and safety of a booster dose of influenza vaccination in solid organ transplant recipients, TRANSGRIPE 1-2: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Despite administration of annual influenza vaccination, influenza-associated complications in transplant recipients continue to be an important cause of hospitalization and death. Although influenza vaccination has been proven to be the most effective measure to reduce influenza infection after transplantation, transplant recipients are still vulnerable to influenza infections, with lower serological responses to vaccination compared to the general population. In order to assess the efficacy and safety of an alternative immunization scheme for solid organ transplant recipients, the TRANSGRIPE1-2 Study Group aimed to test a booster dose administration 5 weeks after the standard vaccination. The primary objective of this trial was to compare short-term and long-term neutralizing antibody immunogenicity of a booster dose of influenza vaccination to the standard single-dose immunization scheme. Secondary objectives included the evaluation of the efficacy and/or safety, cellular immune response, incidence of influenza infection, graft rejection, retransplant and mortality rates. METHODS/DESIGN: This phase III, randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial was conducted between October 2012 and December 2013 in 12 Spanish public referral hospitals. Solid organ transplant recipients (liver, kidney, heart or lung), older than 16 years of age more than 30 days after transplantation were eligible to participate. Patients (N = 514) were stratified 1:1 by center, type of organ and time after transplantation and who either received the standard single dose (n = 257) or were treated according to a novel influenza vaccination schedule comprising the administration of a booster dose 5 weeks after standard vaccination (n = 254). Seroconversion rates were measured as a determinant of protection against influenza (main outcome). Efficacy and safety outcomes were followed until 1 year after influenza vaccination with assessment of short-term (0, 5, 10 and 15 weeks) and long-term (12 months) results. Intention-to-treat, per-protocol and safety analyses will be performed. DISCUSSION: This trial will increase knowledge about the safety and efficacy of a booster dose of influenza vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. At the time the manuscript was submitted for publication, trial recruitment was closed with a total of 499 participants included during a 2-month period (within the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01761435 (registered 13 December 2012). EudraCT Identifier: 2011-003243-21 (registered 4 July 2011)