Background/Objectives: This retrospective study analyzed soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) plasma levels alongside routine inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), and D-dimers in COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the Omicron wave of the pandemic. Methods: We measured plasma suPAR levels using a suPARnostic® Quick Triage kit. We divided COVID-19 patients into two groups based on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. The logistic regression analysis tested the predictive value of the biomarkers. Results: We evaluated 160 consecutive COVID-19 patients hospitalized between January and August 2022. The cohort exhibited a high incidence of comorbidities, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 5.6%. Upon admission, the median suPAR plasma levels were not significantly different between patients with mild COVID-19 (n = 110) and those with moderate/severe disease (n = 50), with 7.25 ng/mL and 7.55 ng/mL, respectively. We observed significant differences (p < 0.01) between the groups for CRP and IL-6 levels that were higher in moderate/severe disease than in mild infection. Additionally, suPAR plasma levels were above the normal range (0-2.00 ng/mL) in all patients, with a significant positive correlation identified between suPAR levels and serum IL-6, PCT, and creatinine levels. Conclusions: These findings indicate that COVID-19 during the Omicron wave is strongly associated with elevated suPAR levels; however, these levels do not directly correlate with the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Although vaccines against COVID-19 are effective tools in preventing severe disease, recent studies have shown enhanced protection after vaccine boosters. The aim of our study was to examine the dynamics and duration of both humoral and cellular immune responses following a three-dose regimen of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. In a longitudinal prospective study we enrolled 86 adults who received the BNT162b2 vaccine, 35 unvaccinated individuals with a history of mild COVID-19 and a control group of 30 healthy SARS-CoV-2 seronegative persons. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses and IgG production up to 12 months post the third BNT162b2 dose in 24 subjects. The vaccinated group had significantly higher IgG antibody levels after two doses compared to the convalescent group (p<0.001). After the third dose, IgG levels surged beyond those detected after the second dose (p<0.001). Notably, these elevated IgG levels were maintained 12 months post the third dose. After two doses, specific T cell responses were detected in 87.5% of the vaccinated group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease before the third dose. However, post the third dose, specific T cell responses surged and remained stable up to the 12-month period. Our findings indicate that the BNT162b2 vaccine induces potent and enduring humoral and cellular responses, which are notably enhanced by the third dose and remain persistant without a significant decline a year after the booster. Further research is essential to understand the potential need for subsequent boosters.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- imunita MeSH
- imunoglobulin G MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- messenger RNA MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- vakcína BNT162 MeSH
- vakcinace MeSH
- vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Botulismus je v České republice raritní život ohrožující onemocnění. Od roku 1960 bylo hlášeno celkem 155 případů, přičemž od roku 2013, s výjimkou výskytu familiárního botulismu v roce 2013, se jednalo dle údajů ISIN (dříve EPIDAT) pouze o 3 izolované případy. V naší práci uvádíme výskyt botulismu po požití paštiky nedohledatelného původu u manželského páru, jenž byl hospitalizován v červenci 2022 pro otravu botulotoxinem. Z neurologických příznaků dominovala dysartrie, po aplikaci antibotulinního séra došlo k výraznému zlepšení klinického obrazu. Vzorky pacientů byly analyzovány pomocí afinitních nosičů a MALDI hmotnostní spektrometrie. Jedná se o moderní vysoce citlivou techniku k zjištění přítomnosti botulinních neurotoxinů. Na rozdíl od klasického průkazu obtížným a finančně nákladným biologickým pokusem na myších nedochází při výše uvedené analýze k usmrcování laboratorních zvířat.
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Dysregulated systemic immune responses during infectious spondylodiscitis (IS) may impair microbial clearance and bone resorption. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine whether circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) are elevated during IS and whether their frequency is associated with alterations in T cells and the presence of markers of bone resorption in the blood. A total of 19 patients hospitalized with IS were enrolled in this prospective study. Blood specimens were obtained during hospitalization and 6 weeks and 3 months after discharge. Flow cytometric analysis of CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets, the percentage of Tregs and serum levels of collagen type I fragments (S-CrossLap) were performed. Out of 19 enrolled patients with IS, microbial etiology was confirmed in 15 (78.9%) patients. All patients were treated with antibiotics for a median of 42 days, and no therapy failure was observed. Next, a significant serum C-reactive protein (S-CRP) decrease during the follow-up was observed, whereas the frequencies of Tregs remained higher than those of controls at all-time points (p < 0.001). In addition, Tregs demonstrated a weak negative correlation with S-CRP and S-CrossLap levels were within the norm at all-time points. Circulating Tregs were elevated in patients with IS and this elevation persisted even after the completion of antibiotic therapy. Moreover, this elevation was not associated with treatment failure, altered T cells, or increased markers of bone resorption.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky terapeutické užití metabolismus MeSH
- biologické markery metabolismus MeSH
- discitida * diagnóza farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- regulační T-lymfocyty * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed at the characterization of humoral immunity in acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. BACKGROUND: Humoral immunity plays a central role in the protection from infection due to SARS-CoV-2, causative agent of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 24 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the functional subsets of circulating B-lymphocytes and SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA and IgG antibodies were analyzed using a flow cytometry and immunoassays, respectively. RESULTS: Circulating plasmablasts and memory B-lymphocytes were significantly elevated and regulatory B-lymphocytes significantly decreased in the patients in comparison with 11 age- and sex-matched SARS-CoV-2 seronegative healthy adults. Next, circulating plasmablasts correlated negatively with the levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies, which were detectable in 9 out of 15 tested patients. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA antibodies were detectable in 13 of 15 tested patients and did not demonstrate correlation with any B-lymphocyte subset. CONCLUSION: Severe course of COVID-19 is associated with significant changes of phenotypes of circulating B-lymphocytes and elevated circulating plasmablasts correlate with decreased SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 14).
- MeSH
- B-lymfocyty MeSH
- COVID-19 * imunologie krev MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- humorální imunita MeSH
- imunoglobulinové izotypy imunologie krev MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- plazmatické buňky * MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- klinická studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
