ABSTRACT
Background: Autoantibodies are vital biomarkers for the diagnosis, assessment and prognostic determination of various autoimmune disorders. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the two AtheNA Multi-Lyte® systems for the detection of various autoantibodies. Methods: A total of 105 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, 35 patients with other autoimmune diseases (diseased controls), and 30 healthy volunteers (healthy controls) at Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig city, Al Sharqia governorate were tested for anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and the AtheNA Multi-Lyte® anti-nuclear antibodies-II system between May 2020 and April 2022. Seventy-five patients with clinically suspected autoimmune vasculitis (AIV) and 25 healthy volunteers were also tested for anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-proteinase 3 antibodies using IIF, the AtheNA Multi-Lyte® AIV system, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The AtheNA anti-dsDNA test (98.5%) was more specific than IIF (96.9%) for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus, but both tests had the same sensitivity (38.1%). Combining both methods increased sensitivity to 47.6%, while increasing the cut-off of the AtheNA anti-dsDNA test to 134 international units/mL increased specificity to 100%. The AtheNA Multi-Lyte AIV system exhibited substantial agreement with IIF regarding anti-myeloperoxidase testing (κ = 0.65) and almost perfect agreement with ELISA (κ = 0.85). The AtheNA Multi-Lyte® AIV system exhibited perfect agreement with IIF (κ = 1) and substantial agreement with ELISA for anti-proteinase 3 testing (κ = 0.63). Conclusion: AtheNA Multi-Lyte® systems appear to be reliable for anti-dsDNA, anti-myeloperoxidase, and anti-proteinase 3 screening and may be an optimal choice for monitoring anti-dsDNA levels. What this study adds: It is necessary to evaluate various autoantibodies detection assays to increase both sensitivity and specificity of autoimmune diseases diagnostic approaches. AtheNA Multi-Lyte® systems appear to be reliable for anti-dsDNA, anti-myeloperoxidase, and anti-proteinase 3 screening and may be an optimal choice for monitoring anti-dsDNA levels.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Airway allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their comorbidities, are increasing worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic health burdens to societies. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of the population is allergic to fungi. The type of fungal sensitization varies from one geographical region to another. The present study aimed to identify the common fungal aeroallergen sensitization patterns among airway-allergic patients residing in the Zagazig locality, Egypt, in order to obtain a better understanding of fungal allergy, in addition to improving the awareness and management strategies for those patients. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 200 allergic rhinitis and asthma patients. Sensitization to fungal aeroallergens was evaluated by skin prick testing and in vitro measurement of total and specific immunoglobulin E. RESULTS: As determined by a skin prick test, 58% of the patients studied were allergic to mixed molds. Alternaria alternata was the predominant fungal aeroallergen among the studied patients (72.2%), which was followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (53.45%), Penicillium notatum (52.6%), Candida albicans (34.5%), and Aspergillus niger (25%). CONCLUSION: Mixed mold sensitization ranked fourth among the most frequent aeroallergens in airway-allergic patients, and Alternaria alternata was the most frequently encountered fungal aeroallergen in the Zagazig locality.
ABSTRACT
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a constantly evolving virus, resulting in an increased burden on the existing COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the first line of defense against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and have been prioritized among the risk categories receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This work aimed to investigate the maintenance of antibody response of the Oxford−AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1/nCoV-19). Methods: Anti-spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured at baseline point (immediately prior to vaccination) and 12- and 24-week (w) points following vaccination. Adverse reactions to the vaccine were reported. Participants were followed up for the incidence of COVID-19 during the 12 w interval between vaccination doses for 24 w after the second dose. Results: A total of 255 HCWs participated in the study. Prior to vaccination, 54.1% experienced COVID-19, 88.2% were seropositive after the first dose, while seropositivity reached 95.7% after the second dose. Following the first and second doses, the anti-spike IgG serum level was significantly higher in subjects with past COVID-19 than in others (p < 0.001 and =0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The Oxford−AstraZeneca vaccine is generally safe and provides a highly effective long-term humoral immune response against the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.
ABSTRACT
Variable intralesional immunotherapies have recently been proposed as a means of achieving a successful eradication of recurrent and recalcitrant human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cutaneous and anogenital warts. The bivalent HPV vaccine is one of the newly proposed immunotherapeutic agents. We investigated the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as ex vivo immunologic predictors to estimate the response to the bivalent HPV vaccine as a potential immunotherapy for cutaneous and anogenital warts. Heparinized blood samples were withdrawn from forty patients with multiple recurrent recalcitrant cutaneous and anogenital warts and forty matched healthy control subjects. Whole blood cultures were prepared with and without bivalent HPV vaccine stimulation. Culture supernatants were harvested and stored for IL-4 and IFN-γ measurements using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A comparative analysis of IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in culture supernatants revealed a non-significant change between the patient and control groups. The bivalent HPV vaccine stimulated cultures exhibited a non-significant reduction in IL-4 levels within both groups. IFN-γ was markedly induced in both groups in response to bivalent HPV vaccine stimulation. The bivalent HPV vaccine can give a sensitive IFN-γ immune response ex vivo, superior to IL-4 and sufficient to predict both the successful eradication of HPV infection and the ultimate clearance of cutaneous and anogenital warts when the bivalent HPV vaccine immunotherapy is applied.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Carbapenamase producing Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are emerging worldwide limiting the use of carbapenems as effective and safe drugs. PURPOSE: To characterize different carbapenemase genes carried by carbapenem-resistant (CR) A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa isolates and to evaluate the in vitro effect of some colistin-based combinations by E-test method in Zagazig University Hospitals ICU isolates. METHODS: CR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa isolated from the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) were tested for carbapenemase genes by polymerase chain reaction and the effect of colistin/meropenem and colistin/tigecycline combinations was evaluated by E-test. RESULTS: Genes coding for OXA-23, NDM and GES were detected in 90, 66.7 and 50% of CR A. baumannii, respectively, while genes coding for VIM, GES, NDM and IMP were detected in 50, 40.9, 27.3 and 18.2% of CR P. aeruginosa, respectively. Colistin/tigecycline combination showed synergistic and additive effect in 20% and 60% of A. baumannii isolates, respectively, while colistin/meropenem combination showed synergistic and additive effect in 63.6% and 36.4% of P. aeruginosa, respectively. CONCLUSION: Carbapenemase genes carriage accounts for high level carbapenem resistance in our isolates. Colistin/tigecycline and colistin/meropenem combinations can be considered for treatment of severe infections by CR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa, respectively.
