Successful treatment of glandular tularemia with azithromycin in a pregnant woman in Austria.

Treatment of tularemia during pregnancy is challenging due to toxicity of standard treatment regimens. Here, we report a 31-year-old woman with glandular tularemia who was successfully treated with intravenous azithromycin. Follow-up examinations over a 6-month period showed a sustained response to treatment.

Early treatment response to piperacillin/tazobactam in patients with bloodstream infections caused by non-ESBL ampicillin/sulbactam-resistant Escherichia coli: a binational cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare treatment outcomes for bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by a piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ)-susceptible E. coli among three patient groups: BSI caused by ampicillin/sulbactam (AMP/SLB)-resistant isolates treated with PIP/TAZ, BSI caused by AMP/SLB-sensitive isolates treated with PIP/TAZ, and BSI caused by AMP/SLB-resistant isolates treated with another monotherapy.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in two academic centres in Europe.

Humoral Immune Response Following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination and Infection in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Currently, there are no data available on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS), and little is known about the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in this age group. We therefore investigated humoral immune responses after COVID-19 vaccination and/or infection in POMS.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed seroconversion rates and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels in 30 POMS and one pediatric CIS patient treated with no disease-modifying therapy (no DMT), immunomodulatory DMT (IM-DMT), or immunosuppressive DMT (IS-DMT) from two Austrian MS centers.

The accelerated waning of immunity and reduced effect of booster in patients treated with bDMARD and tsDMARD after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the duration of humoral responses after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with inflammatory joint diseases and IBD and booster vaccination compared with healthy controls. It also aimed to analyze factors influencing the quantity and quality of the immune response.

Methods: We enrolled 41 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 35 with seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA), and 41 suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), excluding those receiving B-cell-depleting therapies.

Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the second COVID-19 vaccination in patients with inborn errors of immunity or mannan-binding lectin deficiency.

Background: Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are at increased risk for severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 vaccination provides effective protection in healthy individuals. However, it remains unclear whether vaccination is efficient and safe in patients with constitutional dysfunctions of the immune system.

Safety and immunogenicity of a third COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases compared with healthy controls.

Objectives: A third COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for immunosuppressed patients. However, data on immunogenicity and safety of a third COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are sparse and therefore addressed within this clinical trial.

Methods: 60 immunosuppressed patients and 48 healthy controls (HCs) received a third vaccination with an mRNA vaccine.

Heterologous vector versus homologous mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccination in non-seroconverted immunosuppressed patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Impaired response to COVID-19 vaccination is of particular concern in immunosuppressed patients. To determine the best vaccination strategy for this vulnerable group we performed a single center, 1:1 randomized blinded clinical trial. Patients who failed to seroconvert upon two mRNA vaccinations (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) are randomized to receive either a third dose of the same mRNA or the vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Immune Response after mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination in Lung Transplant Recipients: A 6-Month Follow-Up.

Background And Objective: This prospective cohort study analyzed the immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in lung transplant recipients (LuTRs) compared to healthy controls (HCs) at a 6-month follow-up.

Methods: After the first two doses of either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured in LuTRs ( = 57) and sex- and age-matched HCs ( = 57). Antibody kinetics during a 6-month follow-up and the effect of a third vaccine dose were evaluated.

SARS-CoV-2-mRNA Booster Vaccination Reverses Non-Responsiveness and Early Antibody Waning in Immunocompromised Patients - A Phase Four Study Comparing Immune Responses in Patients With Solid Cancers, Multiple Myeloma and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Individuals with secondary immunodeficiencies belong to the most vulnerable groups to succumb to COVID-19 and thus are prioritized for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, knowledge about the persistence and anamnestic responses following SARS-CoV-2-mRNA vaccinations is limited in these patients.

Methods: In a prospective, open-label, phase four trial we analyzed S1-specific IgG, neutralizing antibodies and cytokine responses in previously non-infected patients with cancer or autoimmune disease during primary mRNA vaccination and up to one month after booster.

Course of Fecal Calprotectin after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Two years into the pandemic, vaccination remains the most effective option to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Preliminary studies suggest vaccination efficacy in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but little is known about its impact on chronic intestinal inflammation. Here we assessed the mucosal inflammatory activity in patients with IBD before and after immunization with the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine by measurement of fecal calprotectin (fCP).

Antimicrobial potential and osteoblastic cell growth on electrochemically modified titanium surfaces with nanotubes and selenium or silver incorporation.

Titanium nanotube surfaces containing silver, zinc, and copper have shown antimicrobial effects without decreasing osteoblastic cell growth. In this in-vitro study we present first results on the biological evaluation of surface modifications by incorporating selenium and silver compounds into titanium-dioxide (TiO) nanotubes by electrochemical deposition. TiO-nanotubes (TNT) and Phosphate-doped TNT (pTNT) were grown on the surface of Ti6Al4V discs by anodization.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Response in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Patients suffering from autoimmune hepatitis, a chronic immune-mediated liver disease with an incidence of 0.9 to 2 per 100,000 population per year in Europe, are considered to have a particularly increased risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-associated hospitalization and death. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination provides an essential tool to reduce morbidity and mortality in this cohort.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccinations in Hematological Patients: 6-Month Follow-Up and Evaluation of a 3rd Vaccination.

Here we analyzed SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies and T-cell responses after two coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations over a six-month period in patients with hematological malignancies and assessed the effect of a third vaccination in a subgroup. Sixty-six patients and 66 healthy controls were included. After two vaccinations seroconversion was seen in 52% and a T-cell-specific response in 59% of patients compared with 100% in controls (p = 0.

Response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease depends on immunosuppressive regimen: a matched, prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the humoral response to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine of patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) and the effect of immunosuppressive medication in a matched cohort study.

Methods: Patients with SARD were enrolled and matched 1:1 for sex and age with healthy control (HC) subjects. Differences in humoral response to two doses of an mRNA vaccine in terms of seroconversion rate (SCR) and SARS-CoV-2 antibody level between the two groups and the impact of treatment within patients with SARD were assessed.

Third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in hemato-oncological patients and health care workers: immune responses and adverse events - a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Due to potentially immune-escaping virus variants and waning immunity, a third SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose is increasingly recommended. However, data in patients with cancer are limited.

Patients And Methods: We measured anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody levels after the third vaccination dose in 439 patients with cancer and 41 health care workers (HCW) at an academic centre in Austria and a rural community hospital in Italy.

B Cell Depletion and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Neuroimmunologic Patients.

Objective: The study was undertaken to assess the impact of B cell depletion on humoral and cellular immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in patients with various neuroimmunologic disorders on anti-CD20 therapy. This included an analysis of the T cell vaccine response to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

Methods: We investigated prospectively humoral and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in 82 patients with neuroimmunologic disorders on anti-CD20 therapy and 82 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Additional heterologous versus homologous booster vaccination in immunosuppressed patients without SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion after primary mRNA vaccination: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19 has led to exponentially rising mortality, particularly in immunosuppressed patients, who inadequately respond to conventional COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: In this blinded randomised clinical trial, we compare the efficacy and safety of an additional booster vaccination with a vector versus mRNA vaccine in non-seroconverted patients. We assigned 60 patients under rituximab treatment, who did not seroconvert after their primary mRNA vaccination with either BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna), to receive a third dose, either using the same mRNA or the vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca).

Importance of the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose for achieving serological response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To assess the kinetics of humoral response after the first and second dose of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with inflammatory joint diseases compared with healthy controls (HC). To analyse factors influencing the quantity of the immune response.

Methods: We enrolled patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA), excluding those receiving B-cell depleting therapies and assessed the humoral response to mRNA vaccines after the first and the second dose of the vaccine in terms of seroconversion rate and titre.

Humoral Immune Response in Hematooncological Patients and Health Care Workers Who Received SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations.

Importance: To our knowledge, little is known about antibody development after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with cancer.

Objective: To determine whether hematooncological patients develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after vaccination.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included 2 independent cohorts of patients who were treated for hematological and solid malignant tumors between October 2020 and May 2021, comprising 901 samples from 595 patients and 58 health care workers (HCWs).

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in rituximab-treated patients: B cells promote humoral immune responses in the presence of T-cell-mediated immunity.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that B cell-depleting therapy with rituximab (RTX) affects humoral immune response after vaccination. It remains unclear whether RTX-treated patients can develop a humoral and T-cell-mediated immune response against SARS-CoV-2 after immunisation.

Methods: Patients under RTX treatment (n=74) were vaccinated twice with either mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2.

Bone turnover markers can predict healing time in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Objectives: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe and difficult-to-treat adverse event of bone-modifying agents. Therefore predictive strategies determining patients at risk for a prolonged healing duration are needed to optimize treatment. Thus, the present study evaluates whether or not bone turnover markers can be used to predict the healing duration in MRONJ patients.