Prognostic Factors of Serological Response to the Sars-Cov 2 Vaccine in Peritoneal Dialysis: Our Experience

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) pandemic has had a massive impact in health systems worldwide, taking an important toll on dialysis patients as they are more comorbid, have higher mortality and an impaired immune system. Vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 proved to reduce mortality and hospitalization, but serological response in the dialysis population is weaker. Therefore, predictors of response would be useful to assess their level of protection and evaluate the need for further booster doses of the vaccine. METHOD - We retrospectively analysed all peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients fully vaccinated (two doses) in our PD Unit between February and June 2021. - Clinical data, vaccine brand and anti SARS-Cov-2 IgG antibodies (Ab) measured by enzyme immunoassay were recorded. - The linear correlation between Ab level and all other variables was analysed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS - In the study period, 22 of 32 prevalent patients were fully vaccinated with two vaccine doses, 70.8% Moderna, 20.8% Pfizer/BioNTech and 8.3% AstraZeneca. A total of 50% were male and 36.4% had diabetes mellitus, with mean age 61.4 ± 12.3 years. Median time on PD was 15.6 months (IQR 4.9–25.1). Up to 22.7% were on immunosuppression (IS) after a kidney graft dysfunction (prednisolone, tacrolimus or both) and 22.7% had a previous diagnosis of coronavirus disease (COVID). - A total of 072.7% had an immediate minor adverse event after the second dose of the vaccine, mostly headache/malaise (31.8%) and puncture site pain (22.7%). - Ab levels were significantly higher in those patients with previous COVID (r = 0.452;P = 0.035). Male gender and Moderna vaccine had a positive correlation with higher Ab titers, although not statistically significant (r = 0.401, P = 0.064 and r = 0.215, P = 0.337, respectively). Those with longer duration of PD treatment before vaccination had a weaker serological response (r = −0.228, P = 0.307). Ab levels did not correlate with age (r = −0.046, P = 0.837), diabetes (r = −0.121, P = 0.600) or IS medications (r = −0.070, P = 0.756). - Shows Ab levels at 7.4 ± 4 weeks after the second dose: CONCLUSION In our experience, PD patients have an adequate serological response to the SARS-Cov-2 vaccines, being previous COVID exposure the main predictor of a good response. Conversely, longer duration of PD treatment was a prognostic factor of seroconversion failure. We believe this should be kept in mind to assess the need for booster vaccination doses in those patients.Table 1.Ab levels (AU/mL)%<1000100–100031.81001–10 00027.310 001–40 00022.7>40.00018.2

Update on COVID-19 and histophysiology of the male reproductive system / Actualización sobre COVID-19 e histofisiología del sistema reproductor masculino

RESUMEN: La reciente pandemia de la COVID-19 ha sacudido a la sociedad teniendo una importante repercusión en el campo de la salud y de la investigación. Dada su relevancia, se han llevado a cabo estudios sobre los efectos del SARS-CoV-2 en la fisiología humana. En concreto, sobre la posible presencia y transmisión del virus a través del sistema reproductor masculino y su posible efecto en el éxito reproductivo. Conocer si la presencia del virus altera los órganos responsables del desarrollo y maduración de las células de la serie espermatogénica podría revelarnos su implicación en la calidad seminal. Por ello, nos planteamos esta revisión, con el fin de analizar las principales evidencias científicas sobre los efectos del SARS-CoV-2 en la histofisiología del sistema reproductor masculino y sobre la capacidad fecundante de los espermatozoides.

SUMMARY: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up society, having a significant impact on the field of health and research. Given its relevance, studies have been performed on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on human physiology. In particular, the possible presence and transmission of the virus through the male reproductive system could affect reproductive success. Knowing if the presence of the virus disrupts the organs responsible for the development and maturation of the cell lines involved in spermatogenesis could reveal its implications in sperm quality. For that reason, we proposed this review, in order to analyze the main scientific evidence on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the histophysiology of the male reproductive system and sperm fertilizing capacity.

ICT and Media competencies of teachers. Convergence towards an integrated MIL-ICT model

According to Buckingham (2015: 87), in all these years, "there were times when it seemed that media education would become a fundamental right for all youths. According to Cwaik (2020), the adoption of new technology goes way ahead of the understanding of its impact. ICTs, media education, and teacher training ICTs have made their way into the classroom as a learning resource not because of their indisputable advantages or teachers' demands, but as a result of the dominant discourse on technology, according to which they are essential, "transparent", and a sign of modernity. Considerable research has been done on the presence and evolution of media education/literacy in education systems in Europe (Frau-Meigs et al., 2017;Hartai, 2014;McDougall et al., 2018);Latin America (Trejo-Quintana, 2016;Mateus et al., 2019;Soares, 2020);North America (CML, 2020;Hoechsmann & Wilson, 2019;MLN, 2020;Semali, 2017);Russia (Fedorov & Levitskaya, 2017);Australia (Dezuanni, 2019);and Africa (Egere, 2019). Since the press came to be known as the "Fourth Estate", and because of its interrelationship with the other three estates, communication education has been necessary;today, it is a must.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia treated with high-titer convalescent plasma.

Here, we report on a phase IIa study to determine the intubation rate, survival, viral clearance, and development of endogenous Abs in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with convalescent plasma (CCP) containing high levels of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 Abs. Radiographic and laboratory evaluation confirmed all 51 treated patients had COVID-19 pneumonia. Fresh or frozen CCP from donors with high titers of neutralizing Abs was administered. The nonmechanically ventilated patients (n = 36) had an intubation rate of 13.9% and a 30-day survival rate of 88.9%, and the overall survival rate for a comparative group based on network data was 72.5% (1625/2241). Patients had negative nasopharyngeal swab rates of 43.8% and 73.0% on days 10 and 30, respectively. Patients mechanically ventilated had a day-30 mortality rate of 46.7%; the mortality rate for a comparative group based on network data was 71.0% (369/520). All evaluable patients were found to have neutralizing Abs on day 3 (n = 47), and all but 1 patient had Abs on days 30 and 60. The only adverse event was a mild rash. In this study on patients with COVID-19 disease, we show therapeutic use of CCP was safe and conferred transfer of Abs, while preserving endogenous immune response.