Immunogenicity of third dose COVID-19 vaccine strategies in patients who are immunocompromised with suboptimal immunity following two doses (OCTAVE-DUO): an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial.

Background: The humoral and T-cell responses to booster COVID-19 vaccine types in multidisease immunocompromised individuals who do not generate adequate antibody responses to two COVID-19 vaccine doses, is not fully understood. The OCTAVE DUO trial aimed to determine the value of third vaccinations in a wide range of patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.

Methods: OCTAVE-DUO was a prospective, open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial investigating humoral and T-cell responses in patients who are immunocompromised following a third vaccine dose with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, and of NVX-CoV2373 for those with lymphoid malignancies.

SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-suppressive disease.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune responses and infection outcomes were evaluated in 2,686 patients with varying immune-suppressive disease states after administration of two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Overall, 255 of 2,204 (12%) patients failed to develop anti-spike antibodies, with an additional 600 of 2,204 (27%) patients generating low levels (<380 AU ml). Vaccine failure rates were highest in ANCA-associated vasculitis on rituximab (21/29, 72%), hemodialysis on immunosuppressive therapy (6/30, 20%) and solid organ transplant recipients (20/81, 25% and 141/458, 31%).

The impact of autoantibodies against citrullinated, carbamylated, and acetylated peptides on radiographic progression in patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis: an observational cohort study.

Background: A range of anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPAs) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. We aimed to assess the relationship between AMPA profiles and radiographic progression in patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: In this cohort study, we obtained samples and data from the Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) inception cohort and biobank, which recruited patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis or undifferentiated arthritis who had at least one swollen joint from 20 hospitals across Scotland.

Neutropaenia in early rheumatoid arthritis: frequency, predicting factors, natural history and outcome.

Objectives: To determine the frequency, severity and natural history of neutropaenia in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), explore its associations with clinical features and assess its impact on clinical management.

Methods: The Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis inception cohort prospectively recruited patients with newly diagnosed RA and followed them up every 6 months. Patients with RA who developed at least one episode of neutropaenia (grade 1: <2.

ILDR2 Is a Novel B7-like Protein That Negatively Regulates T Cell Responses.

The B7-like protein family members play critical immunomodulatory roles and constitute attractive targets for the development of novel therapies for human diseases. We identified Ig-like domain-containing receptor (ILDR)2 as a novel B7-like protein with robust T cell inhibitory activity, expressed in immune cells and in immune-privileged and inflamed tissues. A fusion protein, consisting of ILDR2 extracellular domain with an Fc fragment, that binds to a putative counterpart on activated T cells showed a beneficial effect in the collagen-induced arthritis model and abrogated the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in autologous synovial-like cocultures of macrophages and cytokine-stimulated T cells.

Moderators of the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disorders: a systematic review.

Objective: A bidirectional relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) including biological mechanisms has been proposed; however, the potential role of clinical and sociodemographic moderators in this relationship remains unclear. We aim to systematically review the moderating influence of the clinical and sociodemographic variables on the observed interrelationship between depressive disorders and CVD.

Method: We systematically reviewed MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library and PsycINFO databases.

An investigation of the inflammatory cytokine and chemokine network in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by vasculopathy, an aberrantly activated immune system and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Inflammatory chemokines control migration of cells to sites of tissue damage; their removal from inflamed sites is essential for resolution of the inflammatory response. The atypical chemokine receptor D6 has a critical role in this physiological balance.

Association of PTPN22 with rheumatoid arthritis among South Asians in the UK.

Objective: To compare the distribution and assess genetic associations of the PTPN22 R620W single-nucleotide polymorphism among South Asian (Asiatic Indian) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ethnically matched controls.

Methods: DNA samples from 133 rheumatoid factor-positive South Asian RA patients and 149 control subjects from the East Midlands of the UK were genotyped for PTPN22 R620W polymorphism. Genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

A variant of position -308 of the Tumour necrosis factor alpha gene promoter and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the variability between individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) is related to the prevalence of TNF-alpha gene promoter -308 variant in un-matched British Caucasian population from East Midlands.

Procedures: Genotypes and allele frequencies were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Genomic DNA prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes of patients (n=97) and healthy controls (n=95) demonstrated two alleles TNF*1 (G) and TNF*2 (A).

Association of APOE (Hha1) and ACE (I/D) gene polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus in North West India.

Familial and epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors play a role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Asian Indians have shown an increasing prevalence of T2DM. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and Angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphisms have been associated with T2DM.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in coronary artery disease in north India.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in patients with coronary artery disease in north India.

Methods And Results: One hundred forty-six patients with angiographically proven atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and 146 age- and sex-matched control subjects (treadmill-negative) were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed for angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism.