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Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia =... 2024To estimate the probability of infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in different socioeconomic strata of the population of Recife, Northeast Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the probability of infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in different socioeconomic strata of the population of Recife, Northeast Brazil.
METHODS
Study carried out from samples obtained in a survey of residents of a large urban center that had a population base and stratified sampling with random selection of households using the "Brazil Sample" package in the R software. HBV (HBsAg) and anti-HCV was performed using immunochromatographic tests. In cases positive for HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBeAg were tested using chemiluminescence, as well as HBV-DNA using real-time PCR. For cases positive for anti-HCV, the search for this antibody was repeated by chemiluminescence and for HCV-RNA by real-time PCR. The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV cases in the general population was estimated based on a theoretical negative binomial distribution.
RESULTS
Among 2,070 samples examined, 5 (0.24%) were HBsAg and 2 (0.1%) anti-HCV positive. The majority of cases had self-reported skin color as black/brown (6/7), education level up to high school (6/7), a steady partner (5/7) and lived in an area of low socioeconomic status (5/7).
CONCLUSION
The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was lower than those previously found in population-based studies and slightly lower than the most recent estimates. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status should be a priority target of public health policies.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child
PubMed: 38958369
DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720240033 -
American Journal of Reproductive... Jul 2024The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of anti-prothrombin antibodies (aPT) and anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) in...
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of anti-prothrombin antibodies (aPT) and anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) in relation to pregnancy outcomes and coagulation parameters, as well as immune markers.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 477 pregnant women with experienced at least one spontaneous miscarriage who were tested for aPT and aPS/PT antibodies, and compared their clinical characteristics, coagulation indicators, immune biomarkers, and pregnancy outcomes to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these antibodies.
RESULTS
We found that the aPT IgG and the aPS/PT IgM were independently associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.055 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009-1.103, p = 0.017) and 1.041 (95% CI: 1.015-1.067, p = 0.002), respectively. Moreover, we found that the aPS/PT IgM had a higher diagnostic performance than the aPT IgG, as indicated by the AUC of 0.663 and 0.593, respectively. The pregnancy loss rate was positively correlated with the level of aPS/PT IgM, while the aPT IgG is not. We also found that in the pregnancy loss group, aPT IgG showed negative correlations with prothrombin time (PT); aPS/PT IgM showed positive correlations with aPS/PT IgG. However, none of aPT IgG, aPT IgM, aPS/PT IgM, or aPS/PT IgG was related to other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR), or preeclampsia (PE).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that aPT IgG and aPS/PT IgM are independent risk factors for pregnancy loss, especially aPS/PT IgM, which has a positive linear correlation with pregnancy loss.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Phosphatidylserines; Adult; Pregnancy Outcome; Retrospective Studies; Prothrombin; Abortion, Spontaneous; Immunoglobulin M; Biomarkers; Autoantibodies; Immunoglobulin G
PubMed: 38958240
DOI: 10.1111/aji.13890 -
International Journal of Cancer Jul 2024In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), oncogenic variants present in <5% of cases are considered rare, the predominant of which include human epidermal... (Review)
Review
In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), oncogenic variants present in <5% of cases are considered rare, the predominant of which include human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) alterations, c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) rearrangements, rearrangement during transfection (RET) fusions, v-raf mouse sarcoma virus oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutations, and neurotrophic troponin receptor kinase (NTRK) fusions. Brain metastases (BMs) occur in approximately 10%-50% of patients with NSCLC harboring rare genetic variants. The recent advent of small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and macromolecular antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has conferred marked survival benefits to patients with NSCLC harboring rare driver alterations. Despite effective brain lesion control for most targeted agents and promising reports of intracranial remission associated with novel ADCs, BM continues to be a major therapeutic challenge. This review discusses the recent advances in the treatment of NSCLC with rare genetic variants and BM, with a particular focus on intracranial efficacy, and explores future perspectives on how best to treat these patients.
PubMed: 38958227
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35070 -
Acta Crystallographica. Section F,... Jul 2024The third complementary-determining regions of the heavy-chain (CDR3H) variable regions (VH) of some cattle antibodies are highly extended, consisting of 48 or more...
The third complementary-determining regions of the heavy-chain (CDR3H) variable regions (VH) of some cattle antibodies are highly extended, consisting of 48 or more residues. These `ultralong' CDR3Hs form β-ribbon stalks that protrude from the surface of the antibody with a disulfide cross-linked knob region at their apex that dominates antigen interactions over the other CDR loops. The structure of the Fab fragment of a naturally paired bovine ultralong antibody (D08), identified by single B-cell sequencing, has been determined to 1.6 Å resolution. By swapping the D08 native light chain with that of an unrelated antigen-unknown ultralong antibody, it is shown that interactions between the CDR3s of the variable domains potentially affect the fine positioning of the ultralong CDR3H; however, comparison with other crystallographic structures shows that crystalline packing is also a major contributor. It is concluded that, on balance, the exact positioning of ultralong CDR3H loops is most likely to be due to the constraints of crystal packing.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Crystallography, X-Ray; Immunoglobulin Light Chains; Complementarity Determining Regions; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; Models, Molecular; Amino Acid Sequence; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 38958188
DOI: 10.1107/S2053230X2400606X -
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs Jul 2024the advent of biological therapies has already revolutionized treatment strategies and disease course of several rheumatologic conditions, and monoclonal antibodies... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
the advent of biological therapies has already revolutionized treatment strategies and disease course of several rheumatologic conditions, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting cytokines and interleukins represent a considerable portion of this family of drugs. In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) dysregulation of different cytokine and interleukin-related pathways have been linked to disease development and perpetration, offering palatable therapeutic targets addressable via such mAbs.
AREAS COVERED
In this review, we provide an overview of the different biological therapies under development targeting cytokines and interleukins, with a focus on mAbs, while providing the rationale behind their choice as therapeutic targets and analyzing the scientific evidence linking them to SLE pathogenesis.
EXPERT OPINION
an unprecedented number of clinical trials on biological drugs targeting different immunological pathways are ongoing in SLE. Their success might allow us to tackle present challenges of SLE management, including the overuse of glucocorticoids in daily clinical practice, as well as SLE heterogenicity in treatment response among different individuals, hopefully paving the way toward precision medicine.
PubMed: 38958085
DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2376566 -
High Altitude Medicine & Biology Jul 2024Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is a condition commonly caused by the production of antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors. Until recently, gastrointestinal...
Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is a condition commonly caused by the production of antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors. Until recently, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were considered rare in myasthenia gravis, but are now being proposed as an early identification tool. Presented here is a case study that exemplifies GI symptoms in MG, exacerbated by low barometric pressure at altitude. This illustrates the need to identify GI symptoms earlier in MG patients, as well as the need for providers at high altitude to be aware of these manifestations of MG.
PubMed: 38957962
DOI: 10.1089/ham.2023.0132 -
Bioanalysis Jul 2024Endogenous interferents can cause nonselectivity in ligand binding pharmacokinetic assays, leading to inaccurate quantification of drug concentrations. We describe the...
Endogenous interferents can cause nonselectivity in ligand binding pharmacokinetic assays, leading to inaccurate quantification of drug concentrations. We describe the development of a Gyrolab immunoassay to quantify a new modality, CB307 and discuss strategies implemented to overcome matrix effects and achieve selectivity at the desired sensitivity. Matrix effects were mitigated using strategies including increasing minimum required dilution (MRD) and lower limit of quantification, optimization of antibody orientation, assay buffer and solid phase. The strategies described resulted in a selective method for CB307 in disease state matrix that met bioanalytical method validation (BMV) guidance and is currently used to support clinical pharmacokinetic sample analysis in the first-in-human POTENTIA clinical study (NCT04839991) as a secondary clinical end point.
PubMed: 38957926
DOI: 10.1080/17576180.2024.2365545 -
Health Science Reports Jul 2024In the United States, the opioid epidemic has led many young people who use opioids to initiate injection drug use, putting them at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV)...
HCV prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics in a cross-sectional, community study of young people who inject drugs in New York City: Opportunity for and threats to HCV elimination.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
In the United States, the opioid epidemic has led many young people who use opioids to initiate injection drug use, putting them at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, community surveys to monitor HCV prevalence among young people who inject drugs (YPWID) are rare.
METHODS
As part of Staying Safe (Ssafe), a trial to evaluate an HCV-prevention intervention, a community-recruited sample of 439 young people who use opioids (ages 18-30) in New York City (NYC) were screened from 2018 to 2021. Screening procedures included a brief verbal questionnaire, a visual check for injection marks, onsite urine drug testing, rapid HCV antibody (Ab) testing, and dried blood spot (DBS) collection. DBS specimens were sent to a laboratory for HCV RNA testing and phylogenetic analysis to identify genetic linkages among HCV RNA-positive specimens. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between HCV status (Ab and RNA) and demographics and drug use patterns.
RESULTS
Among the 330 participants who reported injecting drugs (past 6 months), 33% ( = 110) tested HCV Ab-positive, 58% of whom ( = 64) had HCV RNA-positive DBS specimens, indicating active infection. In multivariable analysis, visible injection marks (AOR = 3.02; < 0.001), older age (AOR = 1.38; < 0.05), and female gender (AOR = 1.69; = 0.052) were associated with HCV Ab-positive status. Visible injection marks were also associated with HCV RNA-positive status (AOR = 5.24; < 0.01). Twenty-five percent of RNA-positive specimens (14/57) were genetically linked.
CONCLUSION
The relatively low prevalence of active infection suggests the potential impact of treatment-as-prevention in reducing HCV prevalence among YPWID. Targeted community serosurveys could help identify actively infected YPWID for treatment, thereby reducing HCV incidence and future transmissions.
PubMed: 38957862
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2211 -
Cureus Apr 2024Propylthiouracil (PTU) has been identified as a known cause of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis. However, the association between PTU and...
Propylthiouracil (PTU) has been identified as a known cause of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis. However, the association between PTU and immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis remains uncertain due to its rarity and diverse clinical presentation. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old female with a past medical history of chronic leukopenia and Graves' disease treated with PTU that presented with pancytopenia and widespread non-blanching ecchymoses on the bilateral legs. A punch biopsy of the medial leg demonstrated IgA vasculitis and autoimmune antibody analysis revealed increased levels of anti-proteinase 3 antibodies compared to anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies. These findings led to the diagnosis of PTU-induced IgA vasculitis. Following the discontinuation of PTU, there was marked improvement in the appearance of the patient's cutaneous manifestations and hematological indices.
PubMed: 38957824
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58535 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024() is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the...
() is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the only definitive host of and continuously excrete highly infectious oocysts. This parasite carried by the companion animals leads to a great public health risk. However, there is little information on epidemiology of in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China. In the present study, a total of 231 serum and fecal samples were collected in Kunming aera, and then seroprevalence of IgG antibodies in serum and molecular investigation in feces were analyzed to elucidate infection in urban cats. The results revealed that 168 of 231 cats (72.7%) were positive for antibodies, and 1 of 74 cat feces (1.4%) also showed a positive PCR for DNA. The positive fecal sample was sequenced and then phylogenetically analyzed, and the isolate of in the present study was closely related to strain CN. In addition, the food, water and age of cats were identified as the risk factor for seropositivity. Overall, our findings indicate the widespread occurrence of infection in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China and identify food, water and age are the risk factors associated with infection, which can provide effective information for developing strategies to prevent and control this zoonosis.
PubMed: 38957802
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1393236