We provide evidence that serum sarcosine has a higher predictive value than tPSA and %fPSA in patients with PSA < 4 ng/ml. Moreover, sarcosine levels were significantly different in low grade versus high grade cancers in this subset of patients, suggesting that this marker may be a further tool not only for diagnosing PCa in normal PSA and abnormal DRE/TRUS patients but also for selecting candidates for non-aggressive therapies and active surveillance.
Background
Levels of antibodies induced by the measles virus–containing vaccine have been shown to decline over time, but there is no formal recommendation about testing immunized subjects (in particular, healthcare workers [HCWs]) to investigate the persistence of measles immunoglobulin G (IgG).
Methods
This study aims to evaluate the long-term immunogenicity of measles vaccine in a sample of medical students and residents of the University of Bari who attended the Hygiene Department for a biological risk assessment (April 2014–June 2018).
Results
Two thousand immunized (2 doses of measles-mumps-rubella [MMR] vaccine) students and residents were tested; 305 of these (15%) did not show protective anti-measles IgG. This proportion was higher among subjects who received vaccination at ≤15 months (20%) than in those who received vaccination at 16–23 months (17%) and at ≥24 months (10%) (P < .0001). After an MMR vaccine booster dose, we noted a seroconversion of 74% of seronegative HCWs. The overall seroconversion rate after a second dose (booster) was 93%. No serious adverse events were noted after the booster doses.
Conclusions
An important proportion of subjects immunized for measles do not show a protective IgG titer in the 10 years after vaccination. Our management strategy seems consistent with the purpose of evidencing immunological memory.
CA 15-3, CA 125 and β-2 microglobulin are three common tumor markers currently used for diagnosis, prognosis, assessment of therapeutic response, and/or to evaluate recurrence in breast and ovarian cancer and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, respectively. In the present prospective study we assessed the role of these three serum proteins as biomarkers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as well as any association between tumor marker levels and clinical-pathological parameters. CA 15-3, CA 125, and β-2 microglobulin were preoperatively measured in 332 patients who underwent nephrectomy for RCC. Estimates of cancer-specific survival (CSS) was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the most significant variables for predicting CSS. Preoperatively, 35.2% (n = 117), 9.6% (n = 32) and 30.4% (n = 101) of the patients had abnormal levels of CA 15-3, CA 125 and β-2 microglobulin, respectively. Statistically significant differences resulted between CA 15-3, CA 125 and β-2 microglobulin values and tumor size, Fuhrman grade, presence of lymph node, and visceral metastases. CSS was significantly decreased for patients with high levels of CA 15-3, CA 125, and β-2 microglobulin (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.001, resp.). At multivariate analysis only age, the presence of visceral metastases, and high levels of CA 15-3 were independent adverse prognostic factors for CSS.
According to international guidelines, healthcare workers and medical students immunized against HBV are periodically tested for anti-HBs IgG. Subjects who show an anti-HBs titre <10 mUI/mL must receive additional vaccine doses to induce a measurable antibody response. This study aimed to evaluate the long-time immunogenicity of anti-hepatitis B vaccination in a sample of medical students and residents of the University of Bari who attended the Hygiene Department for biological risk assessment (April 2014-June 2017). The strategy for the management of nonresponder subjects was evaluated. A total of 3676 students and residents were invited for testing according to a standardized protocol. Anti-HBs IgG was tested for in 3140 (85.4%) subjects: 1174/3140 (37.7%) subjects were negative. 14.6% (128/808) of subjects who received the vaccine during their 12th year of life and 45.8% (1056/2305) of subjects immunized during the first year of life (P < 0.0001) were negative. 1005/1174 (85.6%) seronegative subjects received a booster dose, and 903/1005 (89.9%) were tested for anti-HBs 1 month after the booster dose: 82/903 (9.1%) subjects were still negative. Of these, 56/82 (68.3%) received 2 additional doses of vaccine and 52/56 (92.9%) were tested 1 month after the third dose: 50/52 subjects (96.2%) developed a positive titre. In conclusion, several medical students, immunized at birth or at young age against HBV, did not develop protective titres against the virus. Our management strategy (booster retest; for negative subjects, 2 doses and retest) seems consistent with the purpose of evidencing immunological memory.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.