A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the virus-specific T-cell response after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, using the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ release assay. A search was conducted (June 8, 2023) in the PUBMED, SCOPUS, and medRxiv databases, to identify studies reporting the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 (Starter (two antigen tubes) or Starter + Extended Pack (three antigen tubes), cut-off ≥ 0.15 IU/mL) positivity rate (PR) in immunocompetent adults, following the administration of two or three COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSecreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity and its metabolic complications. Despite the fact that numerous studies have been carried out in adults, limited data on Sfrp5 exist for youth, especially in relation to overweight and obesity. In our study, we assessed the concentrations of Sfrp5, total oxidative (TOS) and antioxidative (TAS) status, high-sensitivity -reactive protein (hs-CRP), and several cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α) in 120 children and adolescents (mean age ± SE: 11.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe post-infectious complication of COVID-19 that often requires admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The present study aimed to compare the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of children diagnosed with MIS-C who were admitted to the PICU and those who did not require PICU admission. Children diagnosed with MIS-C from September 2020 to April 2023 were included in this case-control study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGroup A rotavirus (RVA), which causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children worldwide, is categorized mainly based on VP7 (genotype G) and VP4 (genotype P) genes. Genotypes that circulate at <1% are considered unusual. Important genes also include VP6 (genotype I) and NSP4 (genotype E).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis is a SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiological study in a pediatric population (0-16 years) during the BA.5 Omicron predominance period in the Athens metropolitan area. Serum samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies (Abs-N), representing natural infection during three periods of BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic modified the epidemiology and the transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We collected data on RSV positivity and incidence from children hospitalized in the largest tertiary paediatric hospital in Greece before (2018-2020, period A), during (2020-2021, period B), and after (2021-2023, period C) the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 9,508 children were tested for RSV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSequencing of the T-cell repertoire is an innovative method to assess the cellular responses after immunization. The purpose of this study was to compare T-cell repertoires after COVID-19 immunization with homologous (HOB) and heterologous (HEB) boosting. The study included 20 participants with a median age of 27.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Omicron variant is associated with increased transmissibility, but evidence about the impact of Omicron in seropositivity of children is limited. This study aims to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children during the different variants' subperiods. A prospective multicenter seroprevalence study was conducted in 7 University public hospitals in Greece from November 2021 to August 2022 (3 subperiods: November 2021-February 2022, March 2022-May 2022, June 2022-August 2022).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), is a rare but severe, hyperinflammatory complication of COVID-19, in which cardiovascular abnormalities are frequently detected. In this prospective study, we describe the echocardiographic findings in patients with MIS-C, with the use of conventional Echocardiography and Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography (STE) with Left Ventricular (LV) Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) analysis, in the acute and follow-up phase. In total, 25 MIS-C patients [64% females, mean (± SD) age: 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been associated with a poor prognosis in serious infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of suPAR in children with acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
Methods: Serum suPAR was measured using the suPARnostic AUTO Flex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in hospitalized children with COVID-19, MIS-C, bacterial pneumonia, and healthy controls.
Unlabelled: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe hyperinflammatory condition that may occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This retrospective, descriptive study of children hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in 12 tertiary care centers from 3/11/2020 to 12/31/2021. Demographics, clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment and outcomes are described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMannan antigen (MA) in neonates as a marker of invasive candidemia is not well studied, although 4% of all neonatal intensive care unit admissions are attributed to Candida spp. infections. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the performance of MA (Platelia™ Candida AgPluskit, Bio-Rad) in neonates who had rectal Candida colonization or in non-colonized controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that are passively transferred to newborns through the placenta confer protection if they are exposed to measles virus. A measles outbreak occurred in several European countries including Greece, between 2016 and 2018. A prospective study was conducted in the General Hospital of Lakonia, regarding the measles seropositivity status of mother and newborn pairs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
August 2023
To prospectively study the kinetics of immune responses after immunization with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and their association with epidemiological parameters and breakthrough infection (BI), we measured total (TAbs-WT) and neutralizing antibodies against wild-type (NAbs-WT) and Omicron (NAbs-O) SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in healthcare workers (HCWs) after the second (4 and 8 months) and third dose (1 and 8 months). Vaccinated HCWs ( = 486), with a median age (IQR) of 49 years (38-56), were included in this prospective cohort study. BI was observed 4 and 8 months after the second dose in 8/486 (1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
November 2023
Background: Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms (AWP) is an excessive and early palmar wrinkling occurring after brief immersion to water (BIW), and has been reported as a frequent finding among Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients.
Objectives: To investigate any associations of CF patients presenting AWP with other disease characteristics and explore the pathomechanism of AWP phenomenon.
Methods: We evaluated AWP in CF patients and assessed the AWP parameters of palmar wrinkling, oedema, papules, pruritus and pain at 3, 7 and 11 min after a BIW test with other disease characteristics.
Although YKL-40 is a promising diagnostic biomarker of sepsis in adults, its value in neonatal sepsis is not known. The study objectives included assessing the levels and diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 in term neonates with sepsis and comparing YKL-40 with other commonly used inflammatory biomarkers. In this pilot case-control study, 45 term neonates (30 septic and 15 non-septic, as controls), 4 to 28 days old, were prospectively studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Virol
May 2023
Cellular immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection or immunization may be important for long-lasting protection against severe COVID-19 disease. We investigated cellular immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination with an interferon-γ release assay (QuantiFERON, QFN), in parallel, with humoral immunity assessment. We recruited 41 participants: unvaccinated convalescent children and adults and vaccinated uninfected or vaccinated convalescent adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Virol Methods
June 2023
Background: SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein Receptor Binding Domain neutralizing antibodies (NAbs-RBD) inhibit the viral binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. We compared an ELISA and a fluorescence immunochromatography (FIC) method in NAbs-RBD detection after COVID-19 immunization.
Method: Serum samples from healthcare workers (HCWs) vaccinated with BNT162b2 were collected one and four months after the second dose.
Immune responses following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children are still under investigation. Even though coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is usually mild in the pediatric population, some children exhibit severe clinical manifestations, require hospitalization, or develop the most severe condition: a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The activated innate, humoral and T-cell-mediated immunological pathways that lead certain pediatric populations to present with MIS-C or remain asymptomatic after SARS-CoV-2 infection are yet to be established.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis randomized study investigates whether feeding very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with mother's own milk (MOM) supplemented with either preterm (PDM) or term donor milk (TDM), when MOM is insufficient, has a positive impact on infants' protein intake and growth. A hundred and twenty VLBW infants were randomized into two groups. Group A (43 infants) received MOM supplemented with PDM, whereas Group B (77 infants) was fed with MOM supplemented with TDM, for the first three weeks of life (donor milk period).
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