ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Background: Heterologous COVID-19 booster vaccination is an alternative strategy to homologous vaccination, especially in developing countries, due to shortages, delays, or unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. We compared cohorts vaccinated with different vaccine combinations to investigate whether a heterologous booster dose of mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine boosts the immune response in individuals primed with the CoronaVac vaccine. Methods: Anti-RBD IgG is generally measured 4 weeks after primary immunization and 4 weeks after booster vaccination. Data on anti-receptor-binding domain (anti-RBD) IgG antibody titers and clinical characteristics were provided by infection control units. Results: The highest median anti-RBD IgG antibody titers (14589 AU/mL) after primary immunization was observed in the group vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. Antibody titers were lower 4 months or more after the second CoronaVac vaccine dose in CoronaVac recipients with or without previous COVID-19. In the homologous COVID-19 booster vaccine group (primed with two doses of CoronaVac 4 weeks apart and a single booster dose of CoronaVac) the median anti-RBD titers decreased from 1025 to 242 AU/mL before the booster dose. In the heterologous group (primed with two doses of CoronaVac 4 weeks apart and a single booster dose of BNT162b2), the median anti-RBD titer increased to 31624 AU/mL, a 132-fold increase, 16 days after the booster dose. Conclusions: After the second dose of CoronaVac, protective neutralizing antibody levels decrease over time, and a booster dose is required. Heterologous COVID-19 booster vaccination with BNT162b2 is effective at boosting neutralizing antibody levels.
ABSTRACT
Antecedentes/Objetivo. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue analizar el lipidograma y ciertos factores de riesgo de ateroesclerosis, tales como las lipoproteínas de baja densidad oxidadas (ox-LDL, por su sigla en inglés) y las lipoproteínas de baja densidad pequeñas y densas (sdLDL, por su sigla en inglés) en los hijos de pacientes con cardiopatía coronaria (CC) prematura. Población y métodos. Hijos de padres con CC de inicio temprano emparejados con pares de su misma edad y mismo sexo. Se analizaron las concentraciones de lípidos, apolipoproteínas (ApoA, B, E), ox-LDL, sdLDL y lipoproteína (a) [Lp(a)] en los niños de estudio y de referencia. Los datos se evaluaron con el programa SPSS, junto con la prueba t de Student y la prueba U de Mann-Whitney. Resultados. Los niños del grupo de estudio (n: 43) tenían niveles más elevados de LDL, Lp(a) y ox-LDL y cocientes mayores de CT/HDL, ApoB/ApoA, LDL/HDL y ox-LDL/HDL (p < 0,05) que los del grupo de referencia. Conclusión. Con base en estos hallazgos, se sugiere que la dislipidemia y las concentraciones elevadas de LDL, Lp(a) y ox-LDL son frecuentes en los hijos de pacientes con CC de inicio temprano y representan gran parte de la predisposición familiar a tener CC
Background/Aim: The objective of our study was to analyze the lipid profile and some risk factors of atherosclerosis such as oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), small dense LDL (sd LDL) in the offspring of patients with premature coronary heart disease (CHD). Population and Methods: Children whose parents had early onset CHD were matched with age and sex pairs. Study and controls were analyzed for lipid levels, apolipoproteins (Apo- A,B,E), ox-LDL, sd LDL and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)]. The data were evaluated with SPSS using "Student tand Mann-Whitney U" tests. Results: Thestudy group children (n: 43) had higher LDL, Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels, ratios of TC/HDL, Apo-B/A, LDL/HDL and ox-LDL/HDL (p<0.05) than control group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dyslipidemia and increased LDL, Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels are common in the offspring of patients with early onset CHD and account largely for their familial predisposition for CHD.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Parents , Apolipoproteins/blood , Triglycerides/blood , Coronary Artery Disease , Lipoprotein(a)/blood , Atherosclerosis/blood , Lipoproteins, LDL/blood , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Asthma and allergic rhinitis are common problems in children and the causative pollen allergens vary according to the geographical area. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of sensitization to common inhalant allergens, especially pollens, in Turkish children living in the Trakya region and to determine differences between rural and urban areas. Allergen skin testing was prospectively performed on 539 children aged between 4 and 17 years with respiratory allergy. The reaction was considered to be positive if the mean wheal diameter was at least 3 mm greater than that of the negative controls. We detected positive skin reactions in 420 (77.9%) children. Two hundred and eighty-one (52.1%) mite, 277 (51.4%) pollen, 174 (32.3%) mold, 65 (12.1%) animal dander, 12 (2.2%) cockroach and 6 (1.1%) latex skin sensitivities were detected. Among the pollen allergies 173 were cereal pollen (32.1%), 170 grass pollen (31.5%) and 144 tree pollen allergies (26.7%). The most common positive skin test among the pollens was to cultivated wheat (Titicum vulgare) (n = 116, 21,5%), followed by rye grass (Lolium perenne) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). Positive skin reactions to Alternaria, to Candida albicans, and to all pollens except Ulmus competris, Pinus sylvetris, Platanus vulgaris and Tilia platyphyllos, were higher in children with allergic rhinitis than in those with asthma. In children from rural areas, allergic skin reactivity was found to be more common against Candida albicans, sheep dander and all pollens except Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Pinus sylvetris, Platanus vulgaris and Chenopodium album, than in urban children. Although Trakya is close to Greece and other Mediterranean countries, this study suggests that the pollens, which sensitize children, are not similar.