The production of antibodies against viral structural proteins such as the spike (S) and the nucleocapsid (N) is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The N protein contains several immunogenic regions. In this work we analysed epitope specificity and avidity of anti-N antibodies in COVID-19 patients. Eighty-nine COVID-19 patients were recruited. IgG, IgA, IgM antibodies to recombinant N protein and to 6 different peptides containing predicted B epitopes were measured by ELISA. Antibody avidity was evaluated by chaotropic ELISA. Anti-N IgG, IgA, and IgM were detected in 59%, 41% and 30% respectively; in 11% cases anti-N IgG are the only antibodies present in COVID patients. IgG and IgA anti-N antibodies levels correlate with levels of IL-6 and inversely with PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p < 0,005). Anti-N IgG displayed medium avidity in 51% and high avidity in 49% COVID patients; anti-N avidity was negatively correlated with PaO2/FiO2 (p < 0,05). Median anti-N antibody levels were similar in discharged or deceased patients and antibody avidity was not correlated with outcome. Among peptides, N366-388 is the most frequently recognized by IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies followed by N380-400, bound by patients IgG and IgA but anti-N380-400 IgG display higher avidity than anti-N366-388 IgG. These results indicate that anti-N antibodies are characterized by medium-high avidity and preferentially bind the COOH-terminus of the nucleoprotein. Anti-N antibodies, especially directed towards specific epitopes, might be relevant for the course of the infection, and their induction might improve current vaccination strategies.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of intravenous efgartigimod in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and to compare treatment responses between anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab)-positive and -negative subtypes. A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to 15 October 2025. Clinical trials and cohort studies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of efgartigimod in patients with MG were included. A random-effects model was used to pool mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes and proportions for categorical outcomes, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed based on study design and MG subtype. Twenty-nine studies (1594 patients) were included. Overall, 83% of patients achieved clinically meaningful improvement (CMI; ≥ 2-point reduction in MG Activities of Daily Living [MG-ADL] score), and 36% achieved minimal symptom expression (MSE; MG-ADL score of 0 or 1) with no significant difference between AChR-Ab-positive and AChR-Ab-negative subtypes. MG-ADL score significantly decreased from baseline (MD: -4.3 points, 95% CI: -4.99 to -3.61), with no difference between the MG subtypes. Quantitative MG score (QMG; MD: -3.6 points, 95% CI: -4.28 to -2.91), MG Quality of Life 15-item revised scale (MG-QoL15r), IgG levels, and corticosteroid use showed significant reductions in the AChR-Ab-positive subtype; however, these outcomes were not reported in the AChR-Ab-negative subtype. Serious adverse events were reported in 4.42% of patients. Efgartigimod significantly improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with MG and may offer a steroid-sparing effect, with no significant differences observed between subtypes.

Recent advancements in vaccine technology have led to the development of RNA-based vaccines, including mRNA, circular RNA, and self-amplifying mRNA, which have emerged as a promising platform for tumor prevention and treatment. In comparison with conventional antitumor vaccines, such as whole cell, peptide, and DNA vaccines, RNA vaccines possess several advantageous characteristics. They have the capacity to encode multiple antigens, induce robust immune responses, and can be developed more expeditiously. Additionally, RNA vaccines have the potential for scalable manufacturing with acceptable safety profiles in cancer patients. Preliminary investigations, conducted both in preclinical and clinical settings, have yielded encouraging outcomes for RNA vaccines in the context of diverse tumor types. This review delineates the types, advances, and applications of RNA vaccines in antitumor therapy, as well as the challenges associated with their use. Finally, it introduces future technological directions for improving these current vaccine platforms for a wide range of therapeutic uses.

Dexmedetomidine (Dex), an α2 adrenergic receptor agonist, has been shown to exert protective effects against postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) following anesthesia and surgery. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms, with a focus on the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R)-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-chaperone glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75) calcium transport protein complex-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. An in vitro sevoflurane-induced SH-SY5Y cell injury model and an in vivo PND rat model induced by sevoflurane anesthesia plus laparotomy were established, and both models were pretreated with Dex. Subsequent assessment included cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial calcium ion (Ca2+), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial ultrastructure, and ATP production. Cognitive functions including spatial memory, anxiety-like behavior, and recognition memory were evaluated in rats. The expression levels and interactions among IP3R, GRP75, and VDAC1 were examined to elucidate the mechanisms involved. Sevoflurane exposure reduced cell viability, increased apoptosis and inflammation, and induced mitochondrial impairments including ROS overproduction, Ca2+ overload, loss of MMP, ultrastructural damage, and reduced ATP production. Dex pretreatment effectively alleviated all these cellular injuries. Furthermore, Dex alleviated cognitive deficits in PND rats and mitigated neuronal loss, histological damage, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial ultrastructural damage in hippocampal tissues. Mechanistically, Dex reversed sevoflurane-induced upregulation of IP3R, GRP75, and VDAC1 and disrupted their enhanced interaction. VDAC1 exhibited the most pronounced changes in response to both sevoflurane injury and Dex treatment. Rescue experiments suggested that VDAC1 overexpression abrogated Dex-mediated mitochondrial protection. Dex alleviates cognitive deficits in PND rats by preserving mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction through regulating the IP3R-GRP75-VDAC1 complex. This study may provide critical insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms of Dex in PND and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Arthritis is a common condition that causes articular cartilage damage, joint tissue destruction, and ligament involvement, representing one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.This study aimed to analyze long-term trends and characterize seasonal patterns in global online information-seeking behavior related to arthritis and its associated terms using Google Trends data.We retrieved monthly relative search volume (RSV) data for the search terms "arthritis", "ankylosing spondylitis (AS)", "gout", "juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)", "osteoarthritis (OA)", "psoriatic arthritis (PsA)", "rheumatoid arthritis (RA)", and "systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)" from Jan 2004 to Dec 2022. Long-term trends were visualized using time-series plots, and seasonal patterns were assessed using cosinor analysis.Analysis of global RSV from 2004 to 2022 revealed distinct and divergent long-term trends across arthritis-related terms. The general term "arthritis," along with "OA" and "RA," displayed an initial decline until around 2010-2011, followed by a sustained recovery and gradual increase. In contrast, "AS," "gout," and "PsA" exhibited consistent upward trends throughout the period, while "JIA" progressively declined and "SLE" remained stable. More importantly, cosinor analysis confirmed statistically significant seasonal patterns (all P < 0.05) for "arthritis", "JIA", "OA", "PsA", and "RA", with amplitudes ranging from 2.28 to 4.22. These rhythms were characterized by a reproducible peak in late winter to early spring (acrophase: Feb 5-Apr 5) and a trough in late summer to early autumn. Thematic analysis of rising queries highlighted public focus on disease classification, clinical manifestations, and treatment-related information.Global online interest in arthritis, as measured by RSV, demonstrated significant long-term and seasonal patterns. The changes in the public's interest in arthritis-related terms can reflect the public awareness and potential medical needs. Our findings underscore the importance of infodemiology in public health monitoring.