scholarly journals COVID-19 and Autoimmunity: A Single Center Prospective Follow-Up Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Sacchi ◽  
Stefania Tamiazzo ◽  
Ramona Bonometti ◽  
Paolo Stobbione ◽  
Lisa Agatea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Acute Inflammatory Response ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Criteria For Diagnosis ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background: Various factors, such as viral infections, can act as triggers for the development of autoimmune diseases.In our recent study we reported the presence of autoantibodies in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. To verify whether these autoantibodies persisted over time and led to the development of chronic autoimmune diseases, we conducted a follow-up study at 3 and 6 months after admission.Methods:Thirteen of 40 patients enrolled in the previous study gave their consent to the analysis. The same autoimmunity tests performed at the time of diagnosis were carried out in these patients during follow up.Results:We showed, compatibly with an acute inflammatory response, that two patients were negative 6 months after diagnosis. In nine patients, autoantibodies were still present at follow-up. Among them, one patient had only ENA positivity. Another patient developed strong positivity for ANA and M2-β and Ku antigens. Currently, the symptoms do not meet full diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of polymyositis, but the patient is closely monitored to check its possible onset.Three patients developed: transient alopecia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia and hearing loss. Other four patients did not show any clinical symptoms.Conclusions:In conclusion, our data show that after 6 months, the autoantibodies are still present in the majority of patients. Further investigations will be necessary to check whether these patients will become negative over time or may develop clinical symptoms compatible with the onset of longer-term chronic autoimmune diseases.

scholarly journals Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442110301
Author(s):  
Hannah G. Juncker ◽  
M. Romijn ◽  
Veerle N. Loth ◽  
Tom G. Caniels ◽  
Christianne J.M. de Groot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Milk ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Immunoglobulin A ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Lactating Mothers ◽  
Milk Antibodies ◽  
Over Time

Background: Human milk contains antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These antibodies may serve as protection against COVID-19 in infants. However, the evolution of these human milk antibodies over time is unclear. Research Aim: To elucidate the evolution of immunoglobulin A (IgA) against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study included lactating mothers ( N = 24) who had participated in the COVID MILK study. To assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum and human milk samples were collected 14–143 days after the onset of clinical symptoms related to COVID-19. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to detect antibodies against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain present up to 5 months (143 days) in human milk after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 IgA in human milk seems to gradually decrease over time. Conclusion: Human milk from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent lactating mothers contains specific IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein up to at least 5 months post-infection. Passive viral immunity can be transferred via human milk and may serve as protection for infants against COVID-19. Dutch Trial Register on May 1st, 2020, number: NL 8575, URL: https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8575 .

scholarly journals Concentrations of canine prostate specific esterase, CPSE, at baseline are associated with the relative size of the prostate at three-year follow-up

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bodil S. Holst ◽  
Sofia Carlin ◽  
Virginie Fouriez-Lablée ◽  
Sofia Hanås ◽  
Sofie Ödling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Serum Concentrations ◽  
Prostatic Disease ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Prostate Size ◽  
Prostate Growth

Abstract Background Enlargement of the prostate is associated with prostatic diseases in dogs, and an estimation of prostatic size is a central part in the diagnostic workup. Ultrasonography is often the method of choice, but biomarkers constitute an alternative. Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) shares many characteristics with human prostate specific antigen (PSA) and is related to prostate size. In men with clinical symptoms of prostatic disease, PSA concentrations are related to prostate growth. The aims of the present follow-up study were to evaluate if the concentration of CPSE is associated with future growth of the prostate, and if analysis of a panel of 16 steroids gives further information on prostatic growth. Owners of dogs included in a previous study were 3 years later contacted for a follow-up study that included an interview and a clinical examination. The prostate was examined by ultrasonography. Serum concentrations of CPSE were measured, as was a panel of steroids. Results Of the 79 dogs included at baseline, owners of 77 dogs (97%) were reached for an interview, and 22 were available for a follow-up examination. Six of the 79 dogs had clinical signs of prostatic disease at baseline, and eight of the remaining 73 dogs (11%) developed clinical signs between baseline and follow-up, information was lacking for two dogs. Development of clinical signs was significantly more common in dogs with a relative prostate size of ≥2.5 at baseline (n = 20) than in dogs with smaller prostates (n = 51). Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline were not associated with the change in prostatic size between baseline and follow-up. Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline and at follow-up were positively associated with the relative prostatic size (Srel) at follow-up. Concentrations of corticosterone (P = 0.024), and the class corticosteroids (P = 0.0035) were positively associated with the difference in Srel between baseline and follow-up. Conclusions The results support the use of CPSE for estimating present and future prostatic size in dogs ≥4 years, and the clinical usefulness of prostatic size for predicting development of clinical signs of prostatic disease in the dog. The association between corticosteroids and prostate growth warrants further investigation.

Changes in DNA methylation persist over time in males with severe alcohol use disorder—A longitudinal follow‐up study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soundarya Soundararajan ◽  
Arpana Agrawal ◽  
Meera Purushottam ◽  
Shravanthi Daphne Anand ◽  
Bhagyalakshmi Shankarappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Over Time

Working memory performance in relation to clinical symptoms in schizophrenia patients: A4-month follow-up study

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Sohee Park ◽  
Jörg Püschel ◽  
David A. Moore ◽  
Ann Ragin ◽  
Christine Hooker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Follow Up Study

A Longitudinal Study of Atlanto-Dens Relationships in Asymptomatic Individuals with Down Syndrome

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 1194-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried M. Pueschel ◽  
Francis H. Scola ◽  
John C. Pezzullo
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
History Of ◽  
Child Development Center ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Development Center ◽  
Over Time

This study was designed to investigate the natural history of atlantoaxial instability in individuals with Down syndrome and to determine whether significant changes in C1-C2 relationship are taking place over time. Although more than 400 patients with Down syndrome who are presently followed at the Child Development Center had cervical spine radiographic examinations in the past, only 141 patients who had serial radiological examinations and whose radiographs were available for reevaluation participated in this study. The results of our investigations revealed that there were only minor changes (1 to 1.5 mm) of atlanto-dens interval measurements over time in 130 (92%) patients with Down syndrome. Eleven patients (8%) had changes of atlanto-dens interval measurements between 2 and 4 mm over time; however, none of these patients had any clinical symptoms. The analyses of data obtained from several subgroups (males and females, various age groups, and patients with and without atlantoaxial instability) did not show any significant changes of atlanto-dens interval measurements of successively obtained radiographs. Our recommendations for and rationale of routine screening for atlantoaxial instability and follow-up examinations are discussed in detail.

Predictive autoimmunity using autoantibodies: screening for anti-nuclear antibodies

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1771-1777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Pérez ◽  
Boris Gilburd ◽  
Óscar Cabrera-Marante ◽  
Jose A. Martínez-Flores ◽  
Manuel Serrano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Antinuclear Antibodies ◽  
Standard Technique ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects

Abstract Background: Early detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in asymptomatic subjects is useful to predict autoimmune diseases years before diagnosis. ANA have been determined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using human epithelial type 2 (HEp-2) cells, which is considered the gold standard technique. Multiplex technology (BioPlex ANA Screen) has been introduced for ANA evaluation in recent years. Nevertheless, concordance between BioPlex and IIF is low and there is no harmonization between both methods for detection of autoantibodies. This study has aimed to clarify the clinical significance of autoantibodies detected by BioPlex ANA Screen in subjects with undiagnosed clinical suspicion of autoimmune disease and to determine the predictive value of autoantibodies detected by BioPlex ANA Screen. Methods: A 3-year follow-up study was performed of 411 subjects without a clear diagnosis of autoimmune diseases in whom autoantibodies were detected by BioPlex ANA Screen that were negative by IIF on HEp-2 cells. Results: At 3 years of follow-up, 312 (76%) subjects were positive for autoantibodies by IIF and 99 subjects continued to be negative. A diagnosis of autoimmune disease was found in most of the subjects (87%). Conclusions: BioPlex ANA Screen has greater sensitivity than IIF on HEp-2 cells for autoantibodies detection. Early detection of these antibodies by BioPlex can predict possible development of autoimmune diseases.

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