Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoresponse evaluation after vaccination program in healthcare workers of the INT -IRCCS 'Fondazione Pascale' Cancer Center: Is it time for a third dose?

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 has been characterized by the rapidity of global transmission and the development of diagnostic reagents and vaccines. Aim: the aim of the study was to evaluate SARSCoV-2 humoral immunoresponse after mRNA anti-spike vaccine (BNT162b2 / Pfizer) administration in two cohorts of healthcare professionals at the INT Cancer Center -IRCCS 'Fondazione Pascale': previously exposed and not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 subjects. Materials and methods: 35 healthcare workers with a previous documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 158 healthcare workers without, were enrolled after a written informed consent. Specific anti-RBD (receptor-binding domain) titers against trimeric spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 were determined by Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay in serum samples after 1 dose of vaccine in previously exposed subjects and after the first and the second dose in not previously exposed individuals. Geometric mean titers and relative fold changes (FC) were calculated. Results: both previously exposed and not exposed subjects developed significant immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 after the administration of 1 and 2 doses of vaccine, respectively. Anti-S antibody responses to the first dose of vaccine were significantly higher in previously SARS-CoV-2-exposed subjects in comparison to titers of not exposed subjects after the first dose (p <0.001), as well as the second dose of vaccine (p <0.001). FC for workers previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 were very modest, given the high basal antibody titer, as well as the upper limit imposed by the method. Conversely, for naïve subjects, mean FC following the first dose was low (1.6), reaching 3.8 FC only in 72 (45.6%) subjects following the second dose (η3.1 in 19.0%).Conclusions: the results showed that, as early as the first dose, SARS-CoV-2-exposed individuals developed a remarkable immune response in comparison to those not exposed, justifying the administration of only one dose in previously exposed subjects. Nevertheless, in 19.0% of not previously exposed subjects, FC after the second dose showed a potential susceptibility to further SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting the possibility of administration of a third dose of vaccine in selected less responsive cases.

COVID-19, Gated Communities, and Urban Resilience: A Comparative Analysis Between China and Colombia

Based on a comparative analysis of gated communities in Shanghai, China and in Bogotá, Colombia, this chapter investigates weaknesses and patterns of urban resilience against the current COVID-19 outbreak, arising from the functional and spatial organization of these residential settlements. The study benefits from an extensive literature review of urban resilience enhancement and enclosed compound types, and is based on the empirical analysis of nine case studies for each city to highlight differences and commonalities under the typo-morphological perspective concerning the containment norms implemented by the institutions in the two contexts, as well as to the provision and quality of outdoor space and facilities which strengthen the settlements’ resilience. The results of the study add value to the existing literature on urban morphology and urban resilience and highlight the need for a holistic context-specific approach for an adaptive urban design that can tackle acute shocks like the current pandemic, but also, as time passes without definitive solutions, possible chronic distresses. The conclusions highlight urban form as one of the methods of enhancing a city’s resilience. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Reasons why COVID-19 survivors should follow dietary World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations: from hyper-inflammation to cardiac dysfunctions.

The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) advise cancer survivors to follow their lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention.  Recent research indicates that a proper diet could exerts beneficial metabolic and immune effects in humans through the involvement of several, not yet properly known, metabolic pathways. Here, we argue that following WCRF/AICR recommendations could be a strategy to prevent cardiovascular outcomes [fulminant myocarditis, heart failure, venous thromboembolism (VTE)] and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients during follow-up post COVID-19 infection. We discuss the metabolic effects of a WCRF/AICR based diet, highlighting on the involved cardio-metabolic pathways related on NLRP3 inflammasome-cytokines axis aimed to improve prognosis of COVID-19, especially in patients with cancer.

SARS-CoV-2 infection: NLRP3 inflammasome as plausible target to prevent cardiopulmonary complications?

NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome has recently become an intriguing target of several chronic and viral diseases. Here, we argue that targeting NLRP3 inflammasome could be a strategy to prevent cardiovascular outcomes [fulminant myocarditis, heart failure, venous thromboembolism (VTE)] and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We discuss the rationale for NLRP3 targeting in clinical trials as an effective therapeutic strategy aimed to improve prognosis of COVID-19, analyzing the potential of two therapeutic options (tranilast and OLT1177) currently available in clinical practice.