Five-Year Follow-Up of a Phase 1 Trial of Donor-Derived Modified Immune Cell Infusion in Kidney Transplantation

Background: The administration of modified immune cells (MIC) prior to kidney transplantation led to specific immunosuppression against the allogeneic donor and a significant increase in regulatory B lymphocytes (Breg) (Morath et al., J Clin Invest 2020). We now wanted to investigate how this approach affects the clinical course of treated patients. Method(s): Clinical results of ten patients from a phase I clinical trial who had received MIC infusions before kidney transplantation were compared to results of 15 matched standard-risk recipients. Follow-up was until year five after surgery. Result(s): The 10 MIC patients had an excellent clinical course with stable kidney graft function and showed no donor-specific human leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSA) or acute rejections during follow-up. In contrast, 1 of 15 controls died and 5 of 15 controls developed DSA (log rank P = 0.046) (Figure 1 A, B). While the number of patients with a non-opportunistic infection did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.36), opportunistic infections were reported more frequently in controls (log rank P = 0.033) (Figure 1 C). Compared to controls, MIC patients were found to have a trend towards a higher COVID-19 anti-S1 IgG index after vaccination with a median of 53 vs. 2 (P = 0.16). Importantly, the four MIC patients who had received the highest MIC cell dose 7 days before surgery and were on low immunosuppression during follow-up, continued to show absent anti-donor T lymphocyte reactivity in vitro and high CD19+CD24hiCD38hi transitional Breg as well as CD19+CD24hiCD27+ memory Breg. Conclusion(s): MIC infusions together with reduced conventional immunosuppression were associated with lower de novo DSA development and lower rates of opportunistic infections. In the future, MIC infusions could contribute to graft protection while reducing the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy. (Figure Presented).

" That's how you are a child": when childhood silences in Early Childhood Education (and in life)

This article arises from a doctoral research in development and aims to problematize the space occupied by childhood in a kindergarten school. During the first half of 2021, in the pandemic context of the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19 disease, 23 children in group III (3-year-old children) were followed through observations and conversations. three teachers. Along with the epistemological references of childhood, cartography and complexity, childhood is discussed and how it has been considered in society and in education. From this, Early Childhood Education is established as a territory and, through a historical retake, its constitution indicates that this stage is seen as an inferior policy, as well as its inhabitants: children. Finally, some discussions are presented about the first semester of meetings at school, in which the pandemic context enhanced the ways of silencing children. It concludes the urgency of a new possibility of Early Childhood Education that must be sought in childhood.

Retraditionalisation? Work patterns of families with children during the pandemic in Italy

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, employment declined and real incomes fell worldwide. The burden of childcare on families increased and, in many countries, women's employment fell more than men's. From a couple-level perspective, changing employment patterns could lead to a retraditionalisation of gender roles between partners, especially for families with dependent children. METHOD We focus on couples with children under 16 and use quarterly large-scale micro data (the Italian Labour Force Survey) to examine, through descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regressions, the changes and composition of couples' work patterns between 2019 and 2020. RESULTS During the pandemic, three types of couples declined (dual-worker couples;'pure' male-breadwinner couples, where only men work;and 'modified' male-breadwinner couples, where women work fewer hours than men) and three increased ('pure' female-breadwinner couples, where only women work;'modified' female-breadwinner couples, where women work more hours than men;and not-working couples). Changes were most pronounced in the second quarter of 2020, to a lesser extent, in the fourth quarter, and among the least educated.

Exploring older adults' experiences using technology during a viral pandemic

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. Spatial distancing and sequestering practices are recommended to limit viral exposure. Older adults adopting these practices are at increased risk of social isolation and adverse health outcomes. Remote technologies offer various platforms for satisfying socialization and healthcare needs while sequestering. Understanding how older adults are using technology has implications for wellbeing during a pandemic. METHOD: Researchers attempted to contact all participants enrolled in the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center longitudinal study via telephone to survey technology use (n = 706). Participants were contacted directly, except for demented participants, whose primary caregivers were contacted to respond on their behalf, when possible. Participants and caregivers gave their assent verbally to complete the voluntary survey, the procedures of which were approved by the IRB. The surveys consisted of validated instruments to gauge the extent of use of and comfort with technology. Spearman correlations, chi-square tests, and t-tests were used to explore data. RESULT: Ultimately, 384 participants were reached and 332 consented to participate. Most reported reliable home internet access (91.5%) and some internet use (90.6%). Recent feelings of loneliness were not related to any technology-related variables (all ps > 0.29) other than decreasing with greater willingness to use telehealth (Rho = -0.11, p = 0.06). Those who reported a lack of comfort with technology (n = 76) were less likely to text messaging (67% vs 78%) and social media (56% vs 69%), ps ≤ 0.06, but felt socially connected using technology at similar levels (82% vs 75%), p = 0.22. Nearly 70% of this group reported they would use technology more with training. Across all participants, willingness to use telehealth was not related to frequency of frustration with tech (Rho = 0, p = 0.99). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that some older adults' use of technology is limited by familiarity. Lack of familiarity does not appear to create a barrier to using telehealth nor does frustration with technology appear to limit telehealth use. The findings have implications for supporting older adults sequestered during a pandemic but potentially more broadly. © 2021 the Alzheimer's Association.