Convalescent plasma is a suggested treatment for Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), but its efficacy is uncertain.
We aimed to evaluate whether the use of convalescent plasma is associated with
Bio Med Frontiers improved clinical outcomes in patients with Covid-19.
Bio Med Frontiers improved clinical outcomes in patients with Covid-19.
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched randomized controlled trials investigating the use of convalescent plasma in patients with Covid-19 in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and medRxiv from inception to October 17th, 2021.
Two reviewers independently extracted the data. The primary efficacy outcome was all-cause mortality. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) method were used. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021284861.
Of the 8874 studies identified in the initial search, sixteen trials comprising 16 317 patients with Covid-19 were included. In the overall population, the all-cause mortality was 23.8% (2025 of 8524) with convalescent plasma and 24.4% (1903 of 7769) with standard of care (risk ratio (RR) 0.97, 95% CI 0.90-1.04) (high-certainty evidence).
All-cause mortality did not differ in the subgroups of noncritically ill (21.7% [1288 of 5929] vs. 22.4% [1320 of 5882]) and critically ill (36.9% [518 of 1404] vs. 36.4% [455 of 1247]) patients with Covid-19.
The use of convalescent plasma in patients who tested negative for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline was not associated with significantly improved survival (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.87-1.02). In the overall study population, initiation of mechanical ventilation (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.88-1.07), time to clinical improvement (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.91-1.30), and time to discharge (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.89-1.02) were similar between the two groups. In patients with Covid-19, treatment with convalescent plasma, as compared with control, was not associated with lower all-cause mortality or improved disease progression, irrespective of disease severity and baseline antibody status.
Multiple High-Risk HPV Types Contribute to Cervical Dysplasia in Ugandan Women Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy.
Cervical cancer mortality remains high in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among women living with HIV (WLWH).
Characterization of prevalent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types and immune function in WLWH with cervical abnormalities despite antiretroviral therapy (ART) can inform prevention strategies.
From 2017-2020, we enrolled Ugandan women with cervical dysplasia detected with visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). WLWH were required to be on ART >3 months with plasma HIV RNA <1,000 copies/mL.
Biopsies from VIA-positive lesions underwent histopathologic grading and cervical swab specimens were tested for hrHPV. Learn More Clinical correlations were evaluated with Poisson regression to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR).
188 WLWH and 116 HIV-seronegative women participated.
Among WLWH, median ART duration was 6 years and median CD4 667 cells/µL. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2/3 was found in 29% of WLWH versus 9% of HIV-seronegative women. In women with CIN1 or without histopathology-confirmed dysplasia, hrHPV (aPR [95% confidence interval]: 2.17 [1.43, 3.29]) and multiple hrHPV (aPR 3.73 [1.07, 13.1]) were more common in WLWH, as were both vaccine-targeted and vaccine-untargeted hrHPVtypes.
Differences in hrHPV prevalence by HIV serostatus were not observed in women with CIN2/3 (interaction P<0.01). Among WLWH, low CD4/8 ratio was associated with hrHPV while detectable plasma HIV RNA (20 to 1,000 copies/mL) was associated with CIN2/3 or invasive cancer.
Liposomes as Adjuvants and Vaccine Delivery Systems.
- The review considers liposomes as systems of substantial interest as adjuvant carriers in vaccinology due to their versatility and maximal biocompatibility.
- Research and development on the use of liposomes and lipid nanoparticles to create subunit vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases has been going on for several decades.
- In recent years, the area has seen serious progress due to the improvement of the technology of industrial production of various high-grade lipids suitable for parenteral administration and the emergence of new technologies and equipment for the production of liposomal preparations. When developing vaccines, it is necessary to take into account how the body’s immune system (innate and adaptive immunity) functions.
- The review briefly describes some of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the mobilization of immunity when encountering an antigen, as well as the influence of liposome carriers on the processes of internalization of antigens by immunocompetent cells and ways of immune response induction.
- The results of the studies on the interactions of liposomes with antigen-presenting cells in function of the liposome size, charge, and phase state of the bilayer, which depends on the lipid composition, are often contradictory and should be verified in each specific case.
- The introduction of immunostimulant components into the composition of liposomal vaccine complexes-ligands of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptors-permits modulation of the strength and type of the immune response. The review briefly discusses liposome-based vaccines approved for use in the clinic for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, including mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles. Examples of liposomal vaccines that undergo various stages of clinical trials are presented.
Long-term effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccines among adult women: A real-world scenario.
This study aimed to determine the real-world effectiveness of bi- or quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in Thai adult women ≥5 years post-vaccination in reducing HPV 16/18-associated low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (LSIL+), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse (ASC-US+), and HPV 16/18 positivity.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted among Thai women aged 20-45 years in Bangkok.
The vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were matched according to baseline years. HPV/Pap test results were collected from the medical records and/or obtained by cervical sample collection at the study sites.
Adjusted hazard ratios were measured using multivariable Cox regression analyses.
A total of 993 participants (493 vaccinated and 500 unvaccinated) were enrolled from 2018 to 2019. The median ages at baseline of the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were 33 years (interquartile range [IQR] 27-38) and 34 years (IQR 30-38), respectively. The median follow-up periods were 7.3 years (IQR 6.1-8.6) and 7.2 years (IQR 5.8-8.9) for the vaccinated group and the unvaccinated group, respectively.
Immunization Grade Rat Type I Collagen, 5 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1064 | Chondrex | 5 mg | 206 EUR |
Immunization Grade Mouse Type V Collgen, 0.1 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1096 | Chondrex | 0.1 mg | 168 EUR |
Immunization Grade Goat Type II Collagen, 5 mg, lyophilized |
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| 20071 | Chondrex | 5 mg | 238 EUR |
Immunization Grade Human Type I Collagen, 1 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1065 | Chondrex | 1 mg | 315 EUR |
Immunization Grade Mouse Type I Collagen, 5 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1066 | Chondrex | 5 mg | 206 EUR |
Immunization Grade Chick Type IX Collagen, 5 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1071 | Chondrex | 5 mg | 331 EUR |
Immunization Grade Chick Type XI Collagen, 5 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1081 | Chondrex | 5 mg | 271 EUR |
Immunization Grade Human Type XI Collagen, 1 mg, lyophilized |
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| 1085 | Chondrex | 1 mg | 353 EUR |
Immunization Grade Human Type II Collagen, 1 mg, lyophilized |
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| 20051 | Chondrex | 1 mg | 374 EUR |
More women in the vaccinated group were single (29.2% vs. 13.2%, P < 0.001) and university graduates (83.2% vs. 75.4%, P = 0.009). The vaccinated and unvaccinated groups had similar personal monthly incomes (>20,000 THB/month, 63.9% vs. 62.4%, respectively, P = 0.685).
There were no cases of HPV 16/18-associated LSIL+ in the vaccinated group, whereas there were four cases in the unvaccinated group. HPV vaccine effectiveness was 88.0% (95% CI 2.0-98.5) in the reduction of HPV 16/18-associated ASC-US+, and 84.6% (95% CI 43.5-95.8) in the reduction of HPV 16/18 positivity.
HPV vaccine effectiveness was high in adult women in a real-world scenario in a developing country. Free HPV vaccination in adult women in this age group should be further explored when vaccine supplies are not limited. (HPV: human papillomavirus. LSIL+: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse. ASC-US+: atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse).