Effect of nicotinamide riboside on airway inflammation in COPD: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, incurable disease associated with smoking and advanced age, ranking as the third leading cause of death worldwide. DNA damage and loss of the central metabolite nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) may contribute to both aging and COPD, presenting a potential avenue for interventions. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we treated patients with stable COPD (n = 40) with the NAD precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) for 6 weeks and followed-up 12 weeks later.

Assessing serum anti-nuclear antibodies HEp-2 patterns in synucleinopathies.

This study investigates the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in three primary synucleinopathies - Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), compared to healthy controls. Autoinflammatory disorders typically involve the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own cells and start producing ANA. There is an increasing body of evidence that immune-mediated inflammation is a pathological feature linked to synucleinopathies.

GDF-15 is associated with sarcopenia and frailty in acutely admitted older medical patients.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been associated with senescence, lower muscle strength, and physical performance in healthy older people. Still, it is not clear whether GDF-15 can be utilized as a biomarker of sarcopenia and frailty in the early stages of hospitalization. We investigated the association of plasma GDF-15 with sarcopenia and frailty in older, acutely admitted medical patients.

Changes in Inflammatory Cytokines in Responders and Non-Responders to TNFα Inhibitor and IL-17A Inhibitor: A Study Examining Psoriatic Arthritis Patients.

This study aimed to examine the changes in biomarker levels in responders and non-responders to tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor (TNFi) and interleukin-17A inhibitor (IL-17Ai) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients over a 4-month period after treatment initiation. A total of 68 PsA patients initiating either TNFi, IL-17Ai, or methotrexate treatment were included. Blood plasma and clinical outcome measures were collected adjacent to treatment initiation and after four months.

Using BCG Vaccine to Enhance Nonspecific Protection of Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine can induce nonspecific protection against unrelated infections. We aimed to test the effect of BCG on absenteeism and health of Danish health care workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial included 1221 HCWs from 9 Danish hospitals.

Cytokine Signatures in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Indicate Different Phenotypic Traits Comparing Responders and Non-Responders of IL-17A and TNFα Inhibitors.

This study aimed to explore the dynamic interactions between 32 cytokines and biomarkers in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients to compare cytokine signatures of treatment responders and non-responders. Biomarkers were measured before and after four months of treatment in 39 PsA patients initiating either Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha inhibitor (TNFi) or Interleukin-17A inhibitor (IL-17Ai). Response to treatment was defined by the composite measure, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA).

SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Specific Antibodies Induced Early in the Pandemic by Natural Infection and Vaccination Display Cross-Variant Binding and Inhibition.

The development of vaccine candidates for COVID-19 has been rapid, and those that are currently approved display high efficacy against the original circulating strains. However, recently, new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged with increased transmission rates and less susceptibility to vaccine induced immunity. A greater understanding of protection mechanisms, including antibody longevity and cross-reactivity towards the variants of concern (VoCs), is needed.

Effect of Influenza Vaccination on Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Prospective Cohort Study of 46 000 Healthcare Workers.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess whether influenza vaccination has an impact on the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A cohort of 46 112 healthcare workers were tested for antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and filled in a survey on COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and influenza vaccination.

Results: The risk ratio of hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 for influenza vaccinated compared with unvaccinated participants was 1.

Risk Factors for Being Seronegative following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Large Cohort of Health Care Workers in Denmark.

Most individuals seroconvert after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but being seronegative is observed in 1 to 9%. We aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with being seronegative following PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a prospective cohort study, we screened health care workers (HCW) in the Capital Region of Denmark for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and reduced risk of reinfection through 6 months: a Danish observational cohort study of 44 000 healthcare workers.

Objectives: Antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are a key factor in protecting against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We examined longitudinal changes in seroprevalence in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Copenhagen and the protective effect of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: In this prospective study, screening for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (ELISA) was offered to HCWs three times over 6 months.

Descriptive analysis of long COVID sequelae identified in a multidisciplinary clinic serving hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients.

Background: There are emerging data of long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) comprising a diversity of symptoms. The aim of this study was to systematically describe and measure pulmonary and extra-pulmonary post-COVID-19 complications in relation to acute COVID-19 severity.

Methods: Patients attending a standard of care 3 months post-hospitalisation follow-up visit and those referred by their general practitioner because of persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms were included.

Treating severe asthma: Targeting the IL-5 pathway.

Severe asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes based on clinical, functional or inflammatory parameters. In particular, the eosinophilic phenotype is associated with type 2 inflammation and increased levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13). Monoclonal antibodies that target the eosinophilic inflammatory pathways (IL-5R and IL-5), namely mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab, are effective and safe for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Using BCG vaccine to enhance non-specific protection of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Denmark.

Objectives: The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis is associated with non- specific protective effects against other infections, and significant reductions in all-cause morbidity and mortality have been reported. We aim to test whether BCG vaccination may reduce susceptibility to and/or the severity of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in health care workers (HCW) and thus prevent work absenteeism.The primary objective is to reduce absenteeism due to illness among HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comprehensive analysis of Fc-mediated IgM binding to the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 family in three parasite clones.

PfEMP1 is a family of adhesive proteins expressed on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs), where they mediate adhesion of IEs to a range of host receptors. Efficient PfEMP1-dependent IE sequestration often depends on soluble serum proteins, including IgM. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of which of the about 60 var gene-encoded PfEMP1 variants per parasite genome can bind IgM via the Fc part of the antibody molecule, and which of the constituent domains of those PfEMP1 are involved.

Evasion of Classical Complement Pathway Activation on -Infected Erythrocytes Opsonized by PfEMP1-Specific IgG.

Members of the PfEMP1 protein family are expressed on the surface of -infected erythrocytes (IEs), where they contribute to the pathogenesis of malaria and are important targets of acquired immunity. Although the PfEMP1-specific antibody response is dominated by the opsonizing and complement-fixing subclasses IgG1 and IgG3, activation of the classical complement pathway by antibody-opsonized IEs does not appear to be a major immune effector mechanism. To study the molecular background for this, we used ELISA and flow cytometry to assess activation of the classical component pathway by recombinant and native PfEMP1 antigen opsonized by polyclonal and monoclonal PfEMP1-specific human IgG.

Multiple Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 Variants per Genome Can Bind IgM via Its Fc Fragment Fcμ.

The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesive proteins expressed on the surfaces of infected erythrocytes (IEs) are of key importance in the pathogenesis of P. falciparum malaria. Several structurally and functionally defined PfEMP1 types have been associated with severe clinical manifestations, such as cerebral malaria in children and placental malaria in pregnant women.