Cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is an important component of the immune response to the virus. At present, two such tests based on interferon-gamma release (interferon-γ release assays, IGRAs) are available-Quan-T-Cell SARS-CoV-2 by EUROIMMUN and T-SPOT.COVID by Oxford Immunotec. In this paper, we compared the results of these two tests in 90 subjects employed at the Public Health Institute Ostrava who had previously undergone COVID-19 infection or were vaccinated against that disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first head-to-head comparison of these two tests evaluating T-cell-mediated immunity against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we also evaluated humoral immunity in the same individuals using the in-house virus neutralization test and IgG ELISA assay. The evaluation yielded similar results for both IGRAs, with Quan-T-Cell appearing to be insignificantly (p = 0.08) more sensitive (all 90 individuals were at least borderline positive) than T-SPOT.COVID (negative results found in five patients). The overall qualitative (presence/absence of immune response) agreement of both tests with virus neutralization test and anti-S IgG was also excellent (close or equal to 100% in all subgroups, with the exception of unvaccinated Omicron convalescents, a large proportion of whom, i.e., four out of six subjects, were IgG negative while at least borderline positive for T-cell-mediated immunity measured by Quan-T). This implies that the evaluation of T-cell-mediated immunity is a more sensitive indicator of immune response than the evaluation of IgG seropositivity. This is true at least for unvaccinated patients with a history of being infected only by the Omicron variant, but also likely for other groups of patients.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Ensuring the regularity and correctness of rehabilitation exercises in the home environment is a prerequisite for successful treatment. This clinical study compares balance therapy in the home environment on a conventional balance mat and an instrumented wobble board, with biofeedback supported by a rehabilitation scheme realized as web-based software that controls the course of rehabilitation remotely. The study included 55 patients with knee injuries. The control group consisted of 25 patients (12 females and 13 males, mean age 39 ± 12 years) and the study group of 30 patients (19 females and 11 males, mean age 40 ± 12 years). Treatment effects were compared using the ICS Balance Platform measurement system. Measurements showed significant differences in the change in ICS Balance platform parameters representing the dynamic stability of the patients. The dynamic stability improved more with the instrumented wobble board. The study did not show an influence of different methods of communication with patients during home-based rehabilitation.
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- biofeedback (psychologie) MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- posturální rovnováha MeSH
- rehabilitace po cévní mozkové příhodě * metody MeSH
- telerehabilitace * MeSH
- terapie cvičením metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Through regulation of signaling pathways, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be involved in sepsis and associated organ dysfunction. The aims of this study were to track the 7-day time course of blood miRNAs in patients with sepsis treated with vancomycin, gentamicin, or a non-nephrotoxic antibiotic and miRNA associations with neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipokalin (NGAL), creatinine, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and acute kidney injury (AKI) stage. METHODS: Of 46 adult patients, 7 were on vancomycin, 20 on gentamicin, and 19 on another antibiotic. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 4, and 7 of treatment, and miRNAs were identified using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: The results showed no relationship between miRNA levels and biochemical variables on day 1. By day 7 of gentamicin treatment miR-15a-5p provided good discrimination between AKI and non-AKI (area under curve, 0.828). In patients taking vancomycin, miR-155-5p and miR-192-5p positively correlated with creatinine and NGAL values, and miR-192-5p and miR-423-5p positively correlated with procalcitonin and interleukin-6 in patients treated with a non-nephrotoxic antibiotic. In patients together we found positive correlation between miR-155-5p and miR-423-5p and all biochemical markers. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that these four miRNAs may serve as diagnostic or therapeutic tool in sepsis, renal injury and nephrotoxic treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , ID: NCT04991376 . Registered on 27 July 2021.
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- akutní poškození ledvin * komplikace MeSH
- antibakteriální látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- cirkulující mikroRNA * MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- gentamiciny MeSH
- interleukin-6 metabolismus MeSH
- kreatinin MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipokalin-2 MeSH
- mikro RNA * genetika MeSH
- prokalcitonin MeSH
- sepse * komplikace MeSH
- vankomycin terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinická studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Thrombophilic mutations in genes for factor V Leiden and factor II prothrombin are among the most important risk factors for developing the thromboembolic disease (TED), along with the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) or smoking. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of risk factors in young women using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and, based on the results of this investigation, to perform a cost-benefit analysis of ddPCR-based screening in young women starting to take OCs compared to the treatment costs of patients who develop preventable TED in the Czech Republic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, female university students filled in a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for DNA isolation and ddPCR analysis of both aforementioned genetic risk factors. The results, along with data from literature and web search, were used for cost-benefit analysis valid for the Czech Republic. RESULTS: Out of 148 participants, 30 (20%) were smokers and 49 (33%) took OCs. A mutation was confirmed in 6 women (4.1%) in the factor V gene and in 3 women (2%) in the factor II gene, respectively. A model calculation on a cohort of 50,000 women starting to use contraceptives in the Czech Republic every year showed that at maximum compliance, (i.e., non-use of OC and smoking cessation), screening could prevent 68 cases of TED over the course of the mean period of OC use (5.7 years). Economically, the costs of testing in this cohort (2.25 mil. USD) would be significantly lower than prevented treatment costs (16 mil. USD at maximum compliance); the cost-benefit break-even point would be at 14.1% compliance. CONCLUSION: The cost-benefit analysis based on our results indicates that screening for factor V Leiden and factor II prothrombin in young women before starting to use OCs would, in the conditions of the Czech Republic, likely be highly economically effective.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
