Anti_spike and anti_nucleocapsid IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 in children of Jordan.

Background: It is proven that children have significantly milder COVID-19 disease compared to adults. Various immunological characteristics influence this age-related difference in protection against COVID-19. Pediatric COVID-19 in Jordan is extremely under reported. Objectives: The primary goal of this work is to identify the anti_S and anti_N antibody responses in a random group of children in Jordan and compare it to that of naturally infected-unvaccinated adults. Methods: 151 unvaccinated children, 4 days to 18 years old, were screened for anti_S and anti_N antibodies. History of COVID-19 infection or exposure to infection and symptom severity were reported by parents on a special questionnaire. Results: 78.9 % and 65.3 % of participants were seropositive for anti_S IgG and anti_N Abs, respectively. There was a remarkable association between age and anti_S IgG and anti_N IgG antibody titers, as children aged 12 years or older had increased anti_S IgG titers (mean = 19.3 BAU/mL) compared to younger groups (means of 10.15, 9.24, 7.91 BAU/mL for age groups 6-12, 1-6, less than 1 year, respectively). Gender did not show a statistically important role in anti_S and anti_N IgG seropositivity rates or titers. Children displayed significantly elevated anti_S titers (mean = 13.23 BAU/mL) compared to naturally infected adults (mean = 9.72 BAU/mL), in contrast, adults' anti_N titers (mean = 39.64 U/mL) were significantly higher compared to those of children (mean = 10.77 U/mL). Conclusions: The current work provides evidence of distinctly robust and persistent humoral immunity displayed by high anti_S and anti_N IgG in children, even >12 months post-infection. Age was the only factor that had a significant statistical impact on anti_S and anti_N Ab levels among the pediatric group in this study. Children exhibited significantly higher anti_S titers than naturally infected adults. In contrast, adults' anti_N titers were significantly higher. Such information can assist direct pediatric SARS-CoV-2 immunization programs, with implications for creating age-targeted strategies for diagnostic and population protection measures.

Awareness and knowledge of physicians and residents on the non-sexual routes of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and their perspectives on anti-HPV vaccination in Jordan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although penetrative sex is the most common route of HPV infection, there is strong evidence of non-sexual modes of transmission. As the first of its kind, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and awareness of Jordanian physicians on such routes. METHODS: A questionnaire was conducted among a national Jordanian sample of physicians from Jordanian health sectors. The survey included questions assessing participants' knowledge on HPV, non-sexual routes of infection and HPV vaccines. Physicians' attitudes towards HPV screening and vaccination were covered. Statistical analysis was carried out using SAS 9.4, ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey-Honest test and Kruskal-Wallis test. All significant differences were set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 412 participants completed the survey. Physicians showed a huge deficit in knowledge on nonsexual routes of HPV transmission. They agreed that the most and least common routes of non-sexual transmission are skin to mucosa (64%) and contaminated water (15%), respectively. Females showed significantly better knowledge in all aspects of HPV transmission and vaccination (p<0.0001) and more positive attitudes towards HPV screening and vaccination compared to males (p = 0.03). Age group ≤ 25 and academic physicians demonstrated higher knowledge on HPV vaccines compared to their counterparts in non-academic places (p = 0.002). Specialty and experience seemed to have no impact on knowledge or attitudes of participants. Higher knowledge physicians had more positive attitude towards vaccination and screening compared to lower knowledge fellows (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The noteworthy findings of this study is the extremely low level of knowledge on non-sexual routes of HPV infection among Jordanian physicians. Increasing the level of awareness of physicians and healthcare workers on these routes and their association with cervical and other cancers through university curricula and other reliable sources is strongly recommended.

Review of current in vitro COVID-19 diagnostics methods.

The diagnosis of COVID-19 is considered a significant step in the management of the disease that is causing a major worldwide public health challenge from the time of its emergence in December 2019. Since it has been established that SARS-CoV-2 spreads rapidly, timely detection of the positive cases and isolation of such individuals and their contacts helps in containing viral transmission. In this paper, we review the in vitro technology platforms for testing and diagnosing COVID-19 patients: molecular tests, rapid antigen tests, and serology tests. As part of our review of each category of tests, we discuss the commercialized testing platforms, their analyzing systems, specimen collection protocols, and testing methodologies. Moreover, the efficacy and limitations of each technique are also discussed. The key structural components of the virus are presented to provide an understanding of the scientific principles behind the testing tools.

SARS-CoV-2 Antinucleocapsid Antibody Response of mRNA and Inactivated Virus Vaccines Compared to Unvaccinated Individuals.

Comparative studies of SARS-CoV-2 antinucleocapsid (anti-N) antibody response in the context of inactivated virus vaccines versus natural infection are limited. This study aims to determine and compare the anti-N antibody levels in people vaccinated with Sinopharm's (Wuhan, China) inactivated virus vaccine in comparison with naturally infected unvaccinated and Pfizer's spike (S) mRNA-based vaccinated subjects. Two hundred ninety-nine Jordanian adults participated in the study including unvaccinated COVID-19-infected patients (n = 99), Pfizer-vaccinated (n = 100), and Sinopharm-vaccinated recipients (n = 100). Serum samples were assayed for anti-N IgG, anti-N IgM, and anti-S IgG. Sera of 64.6% of naturally infected unvaccinated participants had positive anti-S IgG (median = 36.35 U/mL; range: 0.04−532.5 U/mL) compared to 88% of Pfizer-vaccinated (Manhattan, NY, USA) (median = 26.52 U/mL; range: 0.39−1265 U/mL) and 58% of Sinopharm-vaccinated subjects (median = 14.35 U/mL; range: 0.39−870.17 U/mL). Samples of 60.6% of naturally infected unvaccinated people had positive anti-N IgG (median = 15.03 U/mL; range: 0−265.1 U/mL) compared to 25% of Pfizer-vaccinated (median = 0.02 U/mL; range: 0−68 U/mL) and 48% of Sinopharm-vaccinated subjects (median = 0.8 U/mL; range: 0−146.3 U/mL). Anti-N titers among the three groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). Anti-N IgM antibodies appeared in 23.2% of the naturally infected unvaccinated group (median = 0.29 U/mL; range: 0−15 U/mL) compared to only 9.0% of Pfizer-vaccinated (median = 018 U/mL; range: 0−33 U/mL) and 7.0% of Sinopharm-vaccinated subjects (median = 0.2 U/mL; range: 0−12.02 U/mL). A significant negative correlation was found between anti-S and age for both vaccines and between anti-S and the presence of chronic disease in Sinopharm-vaccinated subjects. A significant positive correlation between anti-N and anti-S titers was found among the three groups. This study shows that the inactivated virus vaccine, Sinopharm, induces an anti-N response that can boost that of natural infection or vice versa. On the other hand, the Pfizer mRNA-based vaccine induces a significantly stronger anti-S Ab response.

R-(-)-carvone Attenuated Doxorubicin Induced Cardiotoxicity In Vivo and Potentiated Its Anticancer Toxicity In Vitro

Background: Doxorubicin is one of the most potent broad-spectrum antitumor and chemotherapeutic agents. However, it produces cardiotoxicity. Aims: To investigate whether R-(-)-carvone exerts a cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Study Design: Cell culture and animal experiment. Methods: The synergistic effect of R-(-)-carvone with doxorubicin was evaluated in the MCF 7 cancer cell line while its protective effect against doxorubicin toxicity was evaluated in the normal heart cell line (H9C2) and in vivo. Furthermore, the mechanism of its cardioprotective effect was studied. Results: R-(-)-carvone exerted cytotoxic action on the MCF 7 cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 14.22 µM and potentiated the cytotoxic action of doxorubicin, while it decreased the toxicity of doxorubicin on a normal heart cell line. In BALB/c mice, R-(-)-carvone protected the heart from the toxic action of doxorubicin, as was evident by biochemical and histological studies. The protective effect of R-(-)-carvone on the H9C2 heart cell line and on heart in vivo was due to an increase in catalase activity. Conclusion: R-(-)-carvone has synergistic anticancer action with doxorubicin on the MCF 7 cell line while decreasing its cardiotoxicity.

Naringenin potentiated ß-sitosterol healing effect on the scratch wound assay.

In the present investigation scratch wound assay was used to study the ability of several combinations of each flavonoid (chrysin, naringenin or resveratrol) with ß-sitosterol to heal wounds in vitro. MTT test was performed to determine if the combination of flavonoid with ß-sitosterol was toxic to fibroblasts or not. Also, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) concentrations were measured. The best closure rates were obtained with ß-sitosterol combined with naringenin and ß-sitosterol combined with resveratrol. The combination that produced the best closure rate namely ß-sitosterol with naringenin increased SOD activity significantly. However, this combination was not better than naringenin or ß-sitosterol alone in reducing IL-ß concentration. The results of MTT test indicated that the combination as well as ß-sitosterol alone or naringenin alone has no toxic effect on fibroblasts. In conclusion, the combination of ß-sitosterol and naringenin exerted a synergistic effect on wound closure without decreasing the viability of fibroblasts, increased antioxidant defense mechanism and decreased IL-ß.