The Humoral Response of Patients With Cancer to Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection or the Fourth BNT162b2 Vaccine Dose.

Since January 2022 in Israel, high-risk populations with underlying health conditions were advised to receive a fourth dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We monitored vaccine-induced immunity among oncology patients undergoing systemic anti-cancer therapy before and after the 4th-BNT162b2-dose. Three groups of patients were included in the study: those who received 3rd-BNT162b2-dose and had no breakthrough infection (control), those who received 3rd-BNT162b2-dose and had the breakthrough infection, and those who received the 4th-BNT162b2-dose and had no breakthrough infection.

Should pregnant women be screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection? A prospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), ranges from asymptomatic to severe infection. We aimed to compare the prevalence of COVID-19 in asymptomatic pregnant versus nonpregnant women in order to establish recommendations for a COVID-19 screening strategy.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 among Healthcare Workers: A Prospective Study.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have close interaction with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Infection rates reported among HCWs is between 3% and 17%, and asymptomatic HCWs are a potential source of nosocomial transmission to vulnerable patients and colleagues. Universal mask use and good supply of personal protective equipment was implemented early at our institution.

Vertical transmission and humoral immune response following maternal infection with SARS-CoV-2: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective: To explore maternal humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the rate of vertical transmission.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at two university-affiliated medical centers in Israel. Women positive for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) test during pregnancy were enrolled just prior to delivery.

Automated Analyzers Are Suited for Diagnosing Celiac Disease Without a Biopsy.

Objectives: The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 2012 guidelines, enabled for the first time, a nonbiopsy approach in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). We aimed to prospectively assess 4 tissue-transglutaminase (tTg) IgA assays of 4 random-access analyzers and examine their accuracy in diagnosing CD without a biopsy.

Methods: We enrolled 186 consecutive children referred to upper endoscopy and intestinal biopsy.

Association of Vitamin B12 Deficiency with Homozygosity of the TT MTHFR C677T Genotype, Hyperhomocysteinemia, and Endothelial Cell Dysfunction.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but treatment with folic acid has no effect on outcome in unselected patient populations.

Objectives: To confirm previous observations on the association of homozygosity for the TT MTHFR genotype with B12 deficiency and endothelial dysfunction, and to investigate whether patients with B12 deficiency should be tested for 677MTHFR genotype.

Methods: We enrolled 100 individuals with B12 deficiency, tested them for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and measured their homocysteine levels.

Triple positive antiphospholipid antibody profile in outpatients with tests for lupus anticoagulants.

Background: A triple positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody profile [two positive serum IgG aPL antibodies along with one positive functional plasma lupus anticoagulant (LAC) test result] is associated with an increased risk for thrombosis, whereas patients with single positive test results may have little to no increased risk. The frequency of triple positivity in outpatients with various combinations of LAC test results is unclear.

Methods: We extracted from our database all LAC test results [dilute Russell viper venom times (dRVVT) and silica clotting times (SCT)] that had concomitant serum IgG aPL testing [both serum anti β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) and anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies].

The association of serum antiphospholipid antibodies and dilute Russell's viper venom times.

Aims: We hypothesised that there is a threshold value for the association of dilute Russell's viper venom times (dRVVT) with positive immunoglobin G antiphospholipid antibody (IgG-APLA) test results.

Methods: We tested 120 controls and a cohort of 2412 outpatients who had concomitant test results for dRVVT and IgG-APLA (IgG antibodies to cardiolipins and β2-glycoprotein I). We also selected a subgroup who had repeated IgG-APLA tests at least 12 weeks apart (1398 patients with multiple β2-glycoprotein I tests and 672 with multiple aCL tests).

Vitamin D supplementation for patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon-beta: a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect on flu-like symptoms and immunomodulatory properties.

Background: Flu-like symptoms (FLS) are common side effects of interferon beta (IFN-β) treatment in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and are associated with post-injection cytokine surge. We hypothesized that vitamin D3 supplementation would ameliorate FLS by decreasing related serum cytokines' levels.

Methods: In a randomized, double blind study of 45 IFNβ-treated PwMS, 21 patients were assigned to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day (low dose), while 24 patients received 4,370 IU per day (high dose) for one year.

The influence of vitamin D supplementation on melatonin status in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence is higher in geographic regions with less sunlight exposure. Both vitamin D and melatonin are essential mediators of the effect of sunlight in health, and as such are candidates to play a key role in MS. We hypothesized that vitamin D and melatonin may have related influences in patients with MS.

A new algorithm for the diagnosis of celiac disease.

Celiac disease (CD) affects at least 1% of the Western population but remains largely unrecognized. In our laboratory, we utilize a novel algorithm to diagnose pediatric CD that offers both high sensitivity and high specificity for diagnosis in an outpatient setting. The aim of the present study was to challenge this algorithm and to test its performance in children and adults suspected of having CD.

A novel algorithm for the diagnosis of celiac disease and a comprehensive review of celiac disease diagnostics.

There is an urgent clinical need for a better laboratory celiac disease diagnosis with both less false positive results and minimal underdetection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance and diagnostic accuracy of different assays in an outpatient population setting for the diagnosis for celiac disease (CD) in order to design an optimal algorithm. We used 15 different ELISA assays to assess 47 blood samples of newly diagnosed children (positive biopsy results) and 52 samples from age- and sex-matched children with negative biopsy results for CD.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) attenuates diabetes development in mice through its antioxidative properties.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a lipo-lactonase which is associated with HDL and possesses antioxidative properties. Diabetes is characterized by increased oxidative stress and by decreased PON1 activity. We aimed to analyze whether oxidative status and PON1 levels in mouse sera and macrophages could affect streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes development.

S-Glutathionylation regulates HDL-associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity.

HDL-associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1) undergoes inactivation under oxidative stress and is preserved by dietary antioxidants. PON1 cysteines can affect PON1 enzymatic activities. S-Glutathionylation, a redox regulatory mechanism characterized by the formation of a mixed disulfide between a protein thiol and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), was shown to preserve some enzymes from irreversible inactivation under pathological conditions.

Pomegranate juice sugar fraction reduces macrophage oxidative state, whereas white grape juice sugar fraction increases it.

The antiatherogenic properties of pomegranate juice (PJ) were attributed to its antioxidant potency and to its capacity to decrease macrophage oxidative stress, the hallmark of early atherogeneis. PJ polyphenols and sugar-containing polyphenolic anthocyanins were shown to confer PJ its antioxidant capacity. In the present study, we questioned whether PJ simple or complex sugars contribute to the antioxidative properties of PJ in comparison to white grape juice (WGJ) sugars.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) attenuates macrophage oxidative status: studies in PON1 transfected cells and in PON1 transgenic mice.

Objective: High density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1), hydrolyzes oxidized lipids in oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) and thus protects against atherosclerosis development. Increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis observed in PON1 knockout (PON1(0)) mice was associated with increased LDL lipid peroxidation as well as increased macrophage oxidative stress. Thus, the aim of the present study is to characterize the direct effect of PON1 on oxidative status processes in macrophages.

Paraoxonase (PON1) deficiency is associated with increased macrophage oxidative stress: studies in PON1-knockout mice.

Human serum paraoxonase (PON1), an HDL-associated esterase, protects lipoproteins against oxidation, probably by hydrolyzing specific lipid peroxides. As arterial macrophages play a key role in oxidative stress in early atherogenesis, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of PON1 on macrophage oxidative stress. For this purpose we used mouse arterial and peritoneal macrophages (MPM) that were harvested from two populations of PON1 knockout (KO) mice: one on the genetic background of C57BL/6J (PON1(0)) and the other one on the genetic background of apolipoproteinE KO (PON1(0)/E(0)).

Human serum paraoxonase 1 decreases macrophage cholesterol biosynthesis: possible role for its phospholipase-A2-like activity and lysophosphatidylcholine formation.

Objective: Human serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity is inversely related to the risk of developing an atherosclerotic lesion, which contains cholesterol-loaded macrophage foam cells. To assess a possible mechanism for this relationship, we analyzed the effect of PON1 on cellular cholesterol biosynthesis.

Methods And Results: Mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) were harvested from PON1-deficient mice (PON1o and PON1o/Eo mice on the genetic background of C57BL/6J and Eo mice, respectively).