Response of antibody titers to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and clinical outcomes during the predominance of the Omicron variant in Colombia.

Introduction: The response to vaccination against the virus that causes severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 is lower in renal transplant recipients than in the general population. The data obtained from Latin America showed reduced immunogenicity under inactivated virus vaccination schedules and messenger ribonucleic acid platforms. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including renal transplant recipients from Colombia with a two-dose vaccination schedule against severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Jansen, and Sinovac vaccines between March 1, 2021 and December 1, 2021, was carried out with a follow-up period to evaluate outcomes until May 2022. The outcomes correspond to the titers of immunoglobulin G antibodies against the receptor binding domain of the severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 spike and a composite outcome of mortality, general, and intensive care unit hospitalization. Results: In total, 215 renal transplant recipients with two doses of vaccination for severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 during the predominance of the Omicron variant in Colombia were included, with the measurement of immunoglobulin G antibody titers against the receptor binding domain of the severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 spike at 8 weeks of vaccination. The mean age was 52.1 years, and the standard deviation was ± 14.2; severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 infection occurred in 20% of the population, of which 23.26% required hospitalization, 13.95% were under intensive care unit management, and four cases of mortality (9.3%) were reported. Of the total population, 52.5% had antibody titers higher than 0.8 IU/mL (median 0.77 IU/mL, interquartile range 0.4-131). Patients with severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 infection had a median antibody titer of 0.4 IU/mL (interquartile range 0.4-3.45), and those without infection had a median antibody titer of 1.8 IU/mL (interquartile range 0.4-202) (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Anti-severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody titers with a cutoff point less than 0.8 IU/mL are associated with increased risk of severe acute respiratory infection syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

Effects of additional agitation process on the spectrophotometric profiles of homeopathic high dilutions

INTRODUCTION: Conventional homeopathy advocates giving 10 strokes (agitation/succussions) to a prescription bottle containing liquid dilution, before taking it. To scientifically support such activity, it must be based on studies on the physicochemical aspects of the memory of water and agitated water chains, supplemented with spectrometry. OBJECTIVE: To analyze spectrometric profiles of homeopathic high dilutions, comparing additionally agitated and non-agitated dilutions, and to define differences according to each dilution´s kingdom. METHODOLOGY: Homeopathic dilutions were prepared using a ratio of 1:100 obtaining dilutions from 1cH to 15cH. Measurements of absorbance of 15cH dilutions were performed at 340 nm and 200 nm, with and without additional agitation. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between agitated and non-agitated dilutions (p <0.05) for Apis mellifica, Bufo rana, and Calcium iodatum, with a decrease in the mean value of absorbance (340 nm) in agitated solutions. For A nica montana, Matricaria chamomilla, Coffea arabica, Pulsatilla nigricans, Calcium iodatum and Natrum muriaticum, the absorbance values increased; these values decreased for Apis and Bufo. In addition, measurements were performed with a shorter wavelength (200 nm); it was observed that there are significant differences for all homeopathic dilutions studied. Additionally, when comparing the mean values of the absorbance for each kingdom, and observing the agitation factor, a statistically significant difference was found in the animal kingdom (p<0.05), having lower absorbance for agitated dilutions. CONCLUSION: Comparisons of the spectrometric profiles of agitated and non-agitated solutions allow to observe that there is a difference of the absorbance when comparing a previously agitated solution and a solution with no agitation before taking it.

Effects of additional agitation process on the spectrophotometric profiles of homeopathic high dilutions

Introduction: Conventional homeopathy advocates giving 10 strokes (agitation/succussions) to a prescription bottle containing liquid dilution, before taking it. To scientifically support such activity, it must be based on studies on the physicochemical aspects of the memory of water and agitated water chains, supplemented with spectrometry. Objective: To analyze spectrometric profiles of homeopathic high dilutions, comparing additionally agitated and non-agitated dilutions, and to define differences according to each dilution´s kingdom. Methodology: Homeopathic dilutions were prepared using a ratio of 1:100 obtaining dilutions from 1cH to 15cH. Measurements of absorbance of 15cH dilutions were performed at 340 nm and 200 nm, with and without additional agitation. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between agitated and non-agitated dilutions (p <0.05) for Apis mellifica, Bufo rana, and Calcium iodatum, with a decrease in the mean value of absorbance (340 nm) in agitated solutions. For A nica montana, Matricaria chamomilla, Coffea arabica, Pulsatilla nigricans, Calcium iodatum and Natrum muriaticum, the absorbance values increased; these values decreased for Apis and Bufo. In addition, measurements were performed with a shorter wavelength (200 nm); it was observed that there are significant differences for all homeopathic dilutions studied. Additionally, when comparing the mean values of the absorbance for each kingdom, and observing the agitation factor, a statistically significant difference was found in the animal kingdom (p<0.05), having lower absorbance for agitated dilutions. Conclusion: Comparisons of the spectrometric profiles of agitated and non-agitated solutions allow to observe that there is a difference of the absorbance when comparing a previously agitated solution and a solution with no agitation before taking it. (AU)