Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Kidney Transplant Recipients after Standard COVID-19 Vaccination.

Background And Objectives: Antibody response after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination is impaired in kidney transplant recipients. Emerging variants, such as B.1.

Longitudinal Humoral Responses after COVID-19 Vaccination in Peritoneal and Hemodialysis Patients over Twelve Weeks.

It has been demonstrated that patients on hemo- or peritoneal dialysis are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and impaired seroconversion compared to healthy controls. Follow-up data on vaccination response in dialysis patients is limited but is greatly needed to individualize and guide (booster) vaccination strategies. In this prospective, multicenter study we measured anti-spike S1 and neutralizing antibodies in 124 hemodialysis patients, 41 peritoneal dialysis patients, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls over 12 weeks after homologous BNT162b2 vaccination.

Humoral Responses to Single-Dose BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination in Dialysis Patients Previously Infected With SARS-CoV-2.

Seroconversion rates following infection and vaccination are lower in dialysis patients compared to healthy controls. There is an urgent need for the characterization of humoral responses and success of a single-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in previously infected dialysis patients. We performed a dual-center cohort study comparing three different groups: 25 unvaccinated hemodialysis patients after PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (Group 1), 43 hemodialysis patients after two-time BNT162b2 vaccination without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (Group 2), and 13 single-dose vaccinated hemodialysis patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (Group 3).

Heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 Prime-Boost Vaccination Induces Strong Humoral Responses among Health Care Workers.

Despite limited data on safety and immunogenicity, heterologous prime-boost vaccination is currently recommended for individuals with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime immunization in certain age groups. In this prospective, single-center study we included 166 health care workers from Heidelberg University Hospital who received either heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2, homologous BNT162b2 or homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination between December 2020 and May 2021. We measured anti-S1 IgG, SARS-CoV-2 specific neutralizing antibodies, and antibodies against different SARS-CoV-2 fragments 0-3 days before and 19-21 days after boost vaccination.

Early Humoral Responses of Hemodialysis Patients after COVID-19 Vaccination with BNT162b2.

Background And Objectives: Patients receiving hemodialysis are at high risk for both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and severe coronavirus disease 2019. A lifesaving vaccine is available, but sensitivity to vaccines is generally lower in patients on dialysis. Little is yet known about antibody responses after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in this vulnerable group.

Allopregnanolone Enhances GABAergic Inhibition in Spinal Motor Networks.

The neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) causes unconsciousness by allosteric modulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA) receptors, but its actions on the spinal motor networks are unknown. We are therefore testing the hypothesis that ALLO attenuates the action potential firing of spinal interneurons and motoneurons predominantly via enhancing tonic, but not synaptic GABAergic inhibition. We used video microscopy to assess motoneuron-evoked muscle activity in organotypic slice cultures prepared from the spinal cord and muscle tissue.