A Randomized Controlled Study Assessing Convalescent Immunoglobulins vs Convalescent Plasma for Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus 2019.

Background: It is unknown whether convalescent immunoglobulins (cIgGs) are better than convalescent plasma (CP) for patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we assigned high risk COVID-19 patients with ≤10 days of symptoms, to receive cIgGs or CP. The primary endpoint was improvement on day 14 according to the World Health Organization scale.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in convalescent plasma of donors recovered from mild COVID-19 infection.

Background And Objectives: Passive immunization by the infusion of convalescent plasma (CP) obtained from patients who have recently recovered from COVID-19, thus having antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a potential strategy to reduce the severity of illness. A high prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) in patients with COVID-19 has been reported during the pandemic, raising a concern whether the use of CP could increase the risk of thrombosis in transfused patients. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of APLA in COVID-19 CP (CCP) in order to assess the potential prothrombotic influence of transfused CCP to COVID-19 patients.

Predictors of reinfection with pre-Omicron and Omicron variants of concern among individuals who recovered from COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic.

Objectives: The predictors of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection are unclear. We examined predictors of reinfection with pre-Omicron and Omicron variants among COVID-19-recovered individuals.

Methods: Randomly selected COVID-19-recovered patients (N = 1004) who donated convalescent plasma during 2020 were interviewed between August 2021 and March 2022 regarding COVID-19 vaccination and laboratory-proven reinfection.

Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma therapy.

Several options to treat hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients have been suggested. The study aimed to describe survival in patients treated with convalescent COVID plasma (CCP) and to identify in-hospital mortality predictors. This prospective cohort study examined data from 112 severe COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Corona Departments in an acute care hospital who received two units of CCP (at least one of them high-titer).

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants by rVSV-ΔG-Spike-Elicited Human Sera.

The emergence of rapidly spreading variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a major challenge to the ability of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies to provide immunity. These variants contain mutations of specific amino acids that might impede vaccine efficacy. BriLife (rVSV-ΔG-spike) is a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate currently in phase II clinical trials.

Correlation of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1-specificIgG antibody levels and adverse events following vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in healthcare workers.

Currently approved anti-COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe and effective and almost 60% of Israeli residents are already vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine. This observational study was designed to evaluate the adverse events of vaccine reported by 61 healthcare workers at least 7 days after the 2nd vaccination, and to investigate the correlation of adverse events and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels. The median participant's age was 51.

Qualifying coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent plasma donors in Israel.

Background And Objectives: Passive immunization using investigational COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) is a promising therapeutic strategy and could improve outcome if transfused early and contain high levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We report the management of a national CCP collection and distribution program in Israel.

Materials And Methods: From 1 April 2020 to 15 January 2021, 4020 volunteer donors donated 5221 CCP units and 837 (20.

Lithium toxicity and the kidney with special focus on nephrotic syndrome associated with the acute kidney injury: A case-based systematic analysis.

Despite the progress made in treating bipolar and unipolar affective disorders, lithium carbonate is still a common drug in psychiatric practice. Lithium-related renal side effects include nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is an uncommon but severe complication of lithium treatment.

[COVID-19 - BLOOD GROUPS, ANTIBODIES AND CONVALESCENT PLASMA].

Israel is currently struggling with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS CoV-2. Transmission is increasing, with higher morbidity and mortality among populations at risk. Over-representation of blood type A was reported in COVID-19 patients with increased respiratory failure, while blood type O seems to have a protective effect.

Compassionate use of convalescent plasma for treatment of moderate and severe pneumonia in COVID-19 patients and association with IgG antibody levels in donated plasma.

Background: We assessed outcome of patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 following treatment with convalescent plasma (CP) and the association with IgG levels in transfused CP.

Methods: A prospective cohort study. Primary outcome was improvement at day 14 defined as alive, not on mechanical ventilation, and moderate, mild, or recovered from COVID-19.

Long-term sustained response to fostamatinib in two patients with chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Care of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who are refractory to available treatments can be quite challenging. Fostamatinib, an oral Syk inhibitor, is the newest FDA-approved agent for ITP. Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated an overall response in 43% of patients treated with fostamatinib and use for two years has been reported.

Low Protein Z levels in patients with plasma cell neoplasms are inversely correlated with IL-6 levels.

Unlabelled: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have an increased thrombotic risk, but pathogenesis remains uncertain. Low levels of Protein Z (PZ), a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein, are associated with venous as well as arterial thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to analyze PZ levels in patients with plasma cell neoplasms.

Actin inhibition increases megakaryocyte proplatelet formation through an apoptosis-dependent mechanism.

Background: Megakaryocytes assemble and release platelets through the extension of proplatelet processes, which are cytoplasmic extensions that extrude from the megakaryocyte and form platelets at their tips. Proplatelet formation and platelet release are complex processes that require a combination of structural rearrangements. While the signals that trigger the initiation of proplatelet formation process are not completely understood, it has been shown that inhibition of cytoskeletal signaling in mature megakaryocytes induces proplatelet formation.

Management of thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia is one of the most common hematologic disorders, characterized by an abnormally low number of platelets from multiple causes. The normal count of thrombocytes (platelets) is between 150,000 and 450,000 per microliter. The clinical expression of thrombocytopenia has broad variation from asymptomatic to life-threatening bleeding.

Contemporary treatment of immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune-mediated disorder and the treatment strategies were directed mainly to suppression of the immune system or to removal of the spleen as a place of thrombocyte destruction. In last years, it was shown that other mechanisms are responsible for development of immune thrombocytopenia: reduced thrombocyte lifespan and ineffective marrow platelet production. New treatment strategies, such as thrombopoietin receptor agonists, were developed to overcome this mechanism.

Caterpillar setae penetration in an eye: long-term follow-up.

Purpose: To report the results of 9 years of follow-up after caterpillar setae penetration into a child's eye.

Methods: The clinical course of caterpillar setae penetrating an eye and their migration will be described. Initially confined to the anterior segment (conjunctiva, cornea), they later migrated to the anterior chamber and iris toward the posterior pole.

[Gases in vitreoretinal surgery].

Aim: To evaluate the importance and benefits of using gases in vitreoretinal surgery.

Material And Methods: The gases represent a wide group of substances used in eye surgery for more than 100 years. The role of intraocular gases in vitreoretinal surgery is irreplaceable.

[Lucentis in treatment of the wet-form of age-related macular degeneration--two years experience].

In a study group of 114 patients (39 males, 75 females) with mean age of 72, 5 years (from 52 to 89 years) with mean follow-up of 8 month we retrospectively studied the effectivity and safety of intravitreal aplication of ranibizumab = Lucentis in the case of wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All patients met the inclusion criteria. The treatmet was realized on outpatient basis under strict application protocol.

[Diagnosing of Acanthamoeba keratitis].

Acanthamoeba keratitis is rare corneal disease, its etiology is caused by amoebae of the Acanthamoeba spp. In this paper, the newest findings about the diagnostic and treatment procedures of the disease and epidemiology and preventive issues from the point of public health are presented. The article presents results of the water quality monitoring (according to the Acanthamoeba which is possible to cultivate at 36 degrees C and 44 degrees C) in man-made swimming pools during the period 2004-2008 at the Department of environmental biology of the Regional Public Health Institute in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, E.

Identification of aldolase as a target antigen in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common human neurodegenerative disease, leading to progressive cognitive decline and eventually death. The prevailing paradigm on the pathogenesis of AD is that abnormally folded proteins accumulate in specific brain areas and lead to neuronal loss via apoptosis. In recent years it has become evident that an inflammatory and possibly autoimmune component exists in AD.

Analysis of the capsule edge after Fugo plasma blade capsulotomy, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, and can-opener capsulotomy.

Purpose: To compare the quality of the edges of anterior capsulotomies performed in porcine eyes using 3 different techniques.

Setting: David J. Apple, MD Laboratories for Ophthalmic Devices Research, John A.

[Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and its treatment].

We have analyzed the surgery results of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) on 73 patients (76 eyes) operated on in 2000. Retinal reattachment was achieved on 59 eyes (77.6%) without silicone oil tamponade (SO) and on 17 eyes (22.