HLA alleles, disease severity, and age associate with T-cell responses following infection with SARS-CoV-2

Funding Information: We thank all of the participants that contributed samples for this study for their invaluable contribution to the research. We also thank our research staff at the Patient Recruitment Center for their thorough work. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Memory T-cell responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection have been extensively investigated but many studies have been small with a limited range of disease severity. Here we analyze SARS-CoV-2 reactive T-cell responses in 768 convalescent SARS-CoV-2-infected (cases) and 500 uninfected (controls) Icelanders. The T-cell responses are stable three to eight months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, irrespective of disease severity and even those with the mildest symptoms induce broad and persistent T-cell responses. Robust CD4+ T-cell responses are detected against all measured proteins (M, N, S and S1) while the N protein induces strongest CD8+ T-cell responses. CD4+ T-cell responses correlate with disease severity, humoral responses and age, whereas CD8+ T-cell responses correlate with age and functional antibodies. Further, CD8+ T-cell responses associate with several class I HLA alleles. Our results, provide new insight into HLA restriction of CD8+ T-cell immunity and other factors contributing to heterogeneity of T-cell responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection.Peer reviewe

Giant gastric lipoma successfully removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection: case report and systematic review.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowGastric lipomas are rare adipose tumors that constitute less than 1% of gastric tumors. While lipomas generally do not need removal unless symptomatic, endoscopic resection has been proposed as safe for gastric lipomas smaller than 2 cm. Yet, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment method for larger lipomas. We report a case of a giant 7-cm gastric lipoma successfully removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and systematically review the literature for gastric lipomas removed by ESD. Systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed and Scopus databases, up to 15 February 2018, using combinations of relevant terms. We report a 55-year-old male with known gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma, who sought medical attention due to chronic heartburn and asthma exacerbations. These symptoms were attributed to a large 7 cm × 3 cm gastric lipoma that caused gastric outlet obstruction. The lipoma was safely removed by ESD, allowing quick recovery and alleviation of symptoms. In our review, we identified 20 gastric lipomas treated with ESD, with 15 (75%) being 2 cm or larger. The average size of the lipomas was 4 cm (range: 1.2-9 cm). All lipomas were limited to the submucosa, with 80% of the tumors located in the antrum. Three lipomas were removed by submucosal tunneling. All tumors were successfully removed en bloc and no major complications were reported. Our findings support the conclusion that ESD may be a safe alternative to conventional surgery for removal of large symptomatic gastric lipomas

A quantitative analysis of NSAID-induced small bowel pathology by capsule enteroscopy

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldBACKGROUND & AIMS: Conventional acidic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs frequently cause small bowel inflammation. Diagnosis is largely based on assay of surrogate markers of inflammation in stool, such as fecal calprotectin. However, stool markers are not widely available and the precise nature of this inflammation is uncertain. We used wireless capsule enteroscopy to quantitate and assess the nature of the small bowel damage caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs when taken on a short-term basis. METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers underwent a baseline capsule enteroscopy and fecal calprotectin test. After taking diclofenac slow-release 75 mg twice a day (with omeprazole 20 mg twice a day for gastroprotection) for a total of 14 days, both investigations were repeated. RESULTS: After drug treatment, 30 subjects (75%) had increased repeat fecal calprotectin concentrations above the upper limit of normal. Capsule enteroscopy showed new pathology in 27 subjects (68%). The commonest lesions were mucosal breaks, seen in 16 (40%), which were seen to be bleeding in 2 (5%); reddened folds in 14 (35%); petechiae or red spots in 13 (33%); denuded mucosa in 8 (20%); and blood in the lumen without a visualized source in 3 (8%). Fifteen of the 27 subjects had more than one lesion concurrently. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides both biochemical and direct evidence of macroscopic injury to the small intestine in 68%-75% of volunteers resulting from 2 weeks' ingestion of slow-release diclofenac

Immunoglobulin A deficiency and oral health status: a case-control study

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldINTRODUCTION: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is important for mucosal health. Selective IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common primary immunodeficiency but its effect on oral health is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate dental, periodontal and oral mucosal health in IgAD individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 32 adult IgAD subjects were compared with 63 randomly selected individuals. Participants answered questionnaires regarding general and oral health and underwent oral examination, including examination using the periodontal screening and recording (PSR) system and dental examination using the DMF system. RESULTS: The IgAD individuals had significantly more often undergone tonsillectomy (44%versus 24%, p=0.046) and adenoidectomy (31%versus 8%, p=0.003) compared with the controls. Furthermore, the IgAD subjects reported having pharyngitis, stomatitis and herpes labialis significantly more often. There was no significant difference in periodontal health (mean PSR index; 1.87 versus 1.77) or dental health (mean DMFS; 51.3 versus 53.7) between the two cohorts. A positive correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and severity of periodontitis was found (p=0.036). CONCLUSION: IgAD predisposes to oral mucosal infections but does not influence periodontal or dental health. This is the first controlled study to include detailed clinical history and investigations, together with full oral and dental examination, in adults with IgAD

Why is colon cancer survival improving by time? A nationwide survival analysis spanning 35 years.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowThere is limited information present to explain temporal improvements in colon cancer survival. This nationwide study investigates the temporal changes in survival over a 35-year period (1970-2004) in Iceland and uses incidence, mortality, surgery rate, stage distribution, lymph node yield, tumor location and histological type to find explanations for these changes. Patients diagnosed with colon cancer in Iceland 1970-2004 were identified (n = 1962). All histopathology was reassessed. Proportions, age-standardized incidence and mortality, relative, cancer-specific and overall survival and conditional survival were calculated. When comparing first and last diagnostic periods (1970-1978 and 1997-2004), 5-year relative survival improved by 12% for men and 9% for women. At the same time surgery rate increased by 12% and the proportion of stage I increased by 9%. Stage-stratified, improved 5-year relative survival was mainly observed in stages II and III and coincided with higher lymph node yields, proportional reduction of stage II cancers and proportional increase of stage III cancers, indicating stage migration between these stages. Improvement in 1-year survival was mainly observed in stages III and IV. Five-year survival improvement for patients living beyond 1 year was minimum to none. There were no changes in histology that coincided with neither increased incidence nor possibly influencing improved survival. Concluding, as a novel finding, 1-year mortality, which previously has been identified as an important variable in explaining international survival differences, is in this study identified as also being important in explaining temporal improvements in colon cancer survival in Iceland.Landspitali-University Hospital Research Fund Memorial Fund of B. Magnusdottir and J. J. Bjarnason Gastrointestinal Science Fund of Wyeth-Lederl

Why is colon cancer survival improving by time?: A nationwide survival analysis spanning 35 years

There is limited information present to explain temporal improvements in colon cancer survival. This nationwide study investigates the temporal changes in survival over a 35-year period (1970-2004) in Iceland and uses incidence, mortality, surgery rate, stage distribution, lymph node yield, tumor location and histological type to find explanations for these changes. Patients diagnosed with colon cancer in Iceland 1970-2004 were identified (n = 1962). All histopathology was reassessed. Proportions, age-standardized incidence and mortality, relative, cancer-specific and overall survival and conditional survival were calculated. When comparing first and last diagnostic periods (1970-1978 and 1997-2004), 5-year relative survival improved by 12% for men and 9% for women. At the same time surgery rate increased by 12% and the proportion of stage I increased by 9%. Stage-stratified, improved 5-year relative survival was mainly observed in stages II and III and coincided with higher lymph node yields, proportional reduction of stage II cancers and proportional increase of stage III cancers, indicating stage migration between these stages. Improvement in 1-year survival was mainly observed in stages III and IV. Five-year survival improvement for patients living beyond 1 year was minimum to none. There were no changes in histology that coincided with neither increased incidence nor possibly influencing improved survival. Concluding, as a novel finding, 1-year mortality, which previously has been identified as an important variable in explaining international survival differences, is in this study identified as also being important in explaining temporal improvements in colon cancer survival in Iceland

The interior of Tom Bass' workshop showing a work in progress, Minto, New South Wales, ca. 1961 [transparency] /

Title from acquisitions documentation.; Inscriptions: "J. Whitelock"--Stamped on mount; "TB12"--In pencil on mount.; Part of the collection: Tom Bass and his sculptures, Australia, 1960-1962.; Also available in electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4225613; Donated by James Whitelock, 2007

A homozygous loss-of-function mutation leading to CYBC1 deficiency causes chronic granulomatous disease

Mutations in genes encoding NAPDH oxidase subunits are known to be causative for the primary immunodeficiency chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Here, the authors identify CYBC1 mutations in patients with CGD and show that CYBC1 is important for formation of the NADPH complex and respiratory burst