Relationship between Anti-Spike Protein Antibody Titers and SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro Virus Neutralization in Convalescent Plasma.

Newly emerged pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 highlight the urgent need for assays that detect levels of neutralizing antibodies that may be protective. We studied the relationship between anti-spike ectodomain (ECD) and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG titers, and SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization (VN) titers generated by two different in vitro assays using convalescent plasma samples obtained from 68 COVID-19 patients, including 13 who donated plasma multiple times. Only 23% (16/68) of donors had been hospitalized. We also studied 16 samples from subjects found to have anti-spike protein IgG during surveillance screening of asymptomatic individuals. We report a strong positive correlation between both plasma anti-RBD and anti-ECD IgG titers, and in vitro VN titer. Anti-RBD plasma IgG correlated slightly better than anti-ECD IgG titer with VN titer. The probability of a VN titer ≥160 was 80% or greater with anti-RBD or anti-ECD titers of ≥1:1350. Thirty-seven percent (25/68) of convalescent plasma donors lacked VN titers ≥160, the FDA-recommended level for convalescent plasma used for COVID-19 treatment. Dyspnea, hospitalization, and disease severity were significantly associated with higher VN titer. Frequent donation of convalescent plasma did not significantly decrease either VN or IgG titers. Analysis of 2,814 asymptomatic adults found 27 individuals with anti-RBD or anti-ECD IgG titers of ≥1:1350, and evidence of VN ≥1:160. Taken together, we conclude that anti-RBD or anti-ECD IgG titers can serve as a surrogate for VN titers to identify suitable plasma donors. Plasma anti-RBD or anti-ECD titer of ≥1:1350 may provide critical information about protection against COVID-19 disease.

Safety Precautions and Operating Procedures in an (A)BSL-4 Laboratory: 2. General Practices.

Work in a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) containment laboratory requires time and great attention to detail. The same work that is done in a BSL-2 laboratory with non-high-consequence pathogens will take significantly longer in a BSL-4 setting. This increased time requirement is due to a multitude of factors that are aimed at protecting the researcher from laboratory-acquired infections, the work environment from potential contamination and the local community from possible release of high-consequence pathogens. Inside the laboratory, movement is restricted due to air hoses attached to the mandatory full-body safety suits. In addition, disinfection of every item that is removed from Class II biosafety cabinets (BSCs) is required. Laboratory specialists must be trained in the practices of the BSL-4 laboratory and must show high proficiency in the skills they are performing. The focus of this article is to outline proper procedures and techniques to ensure laboratory biosafety and experimental accuracy using a standard viral plaque assay as an example procedure. In particular, proper techniques to work safely in a BSL-4 environment when performing an experiment will be visually emphasized. These techniques include: setting up a Class II BSC for experiments, proper cleaning of the Class II BSC when finished working, waste management and safe disposal of waste generated inside a BSL-4 laboratory, and the removal of inactivated samples from inside a BSL-4 laboratory to the BSL-2 laboratory.

Impacto que producen las terapias complementarias en usuarios pediátricos con enfermedades oncológicas y la participación de los profesionales de enfermería en su uso, en algunos hospitales e instituciones de Santiago de Chile, en el periodo diciembre 2014 a enero 2015 / Impact of complementary therapies in pediatric users with oncological diseases and the participation of nursing professionals in their use, in some hospitals and institutions in Santiago, Chile, from December 2014 to January 2015

Los niños con enfermedades oncológicas en tratamiento convencional se ven afectados tanto emocional como físicamente por la medicina tradicional y, considerando, que la OMS ha realizado publicaciones en que se invita a los países a implementar el uso de terapias complementarias, y que el Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de Chile ha reconocido a la acupuntura, naturopatía y homeopatía como profesiones auxiliares de salud, se realizó una investigación descriptiva, basada en la metodología cuantitativa y tomando como referencia la Teoría de los Seres Unitarios planteada por Martha Rogers, con el propósito de conocer el impacto que producen las terapias complementarias en la tolerancia al tratamiento convencional, y la participación del Profesional de Enfermería en su uso. El proceso de recolección de datos fue durante el mes de diciembre de 2014 a enero de 2015, en los Hospitales Dr. Exequiel González Cortés y Dr. Roberto del Río, en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica de Chile, en la Clínica Dávila y en la Fundación Nuestros Hijos, sede San Miguel. Se encuestó a 120 cuidadores de niños con enfermedades oncológicas, quienes voluntariamente respondieron un cuestionario autoadministrado. Al cuantificar el uso de terapias complementarias, se determinó que 56 niños (47%), utilizan este tipo de terapias y que a su vez, más de la mitad de quienes la utilizan, hacen uso de más de un tipo de éstas. Al determinar el impacto de las terapias complementarias en la tolerancia al tratamiento convencional el resultado fue de carácter positivo, con un porcentaje que fluctúa entre un 75% y un 97%. Finalmente, al establecer el grado de participación de los Profesionales de Enfermería en el uso de terapias complementarias, se evidenció que su participación es baja (18%).