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MedAcuity Appoints New VP of People Operations and Director of Quality Assurance

MedAcuity

MedAcuity, the go-to Boston-based software development partner for leading MedTech companies, today announced the appointments of Jeanne Raney as vice president of people operations and Andy Sageman as director of quality assurance. MedAcuity, which marks its 15 th anniversary this year, prioritizes team development and a quality-first mindset as integral to the success of the strategic consulting and software development work done in partnership with its MedTech and robotics clients. As MedAcuity’s vice president of people operations, Jeanne will prioritize humanizing business processes and continuously improving employee training, development, engagement and retention. Jeanne comes to MedAcuity with over 25 years of human resource management / people operations experience in industries including professional and managed services/consulting, clinical research, and managed IT services. She brings expertise in talent management, policy development, coaching, management training, benefits, and employee communications. Jeanne has her BBA in general business and finance from UMASS Amherst, her MBA from Suffolk University, and has both her SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. “Putting people first has always been a cornerstone of our company values and continuing to do so is critical to the success of our business,” said Karl Pessinis, COO, MedAcuity. “Jeanne will be instrumental in evolving the MedAcuity culture to create an even more positive and inspiring environment where team members know they are valued and have access to needed resources for professional development. We want everyone who works at MedAcuity to feel supported and to be proud of the work we are doing here, and Jeanne has the ideal expertise to lead our people-centric initiatives.” As director of quality assurance, Andy will ensure that MedAcuity’s engineering teams bring a quality mindset to each client project to ensure the highest standards are achieved in the delivery of its services and capabilities. Andy comes to MedAcuity with over 25 years of quality leadership and quality engineering experience in the medical device industry. During his career, Andy has provided quality engineering, quality leadership and project management support for the development and commercialization of continuous glucose monitors and insulin infusions pumps for Diabetes patients (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Laser Vision Correction systems for Lasik surgery (Abbott Medical Optics), and cardiac output monitoring systems, mechanical/porcine heart valves and pressure monitoring devices for cardiac patients (Medtronic-Heart Valve Division). Andy holds a BS in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. “With our sights set on the next 15 years of successfully partnering with clients to accelerate the development of complex software solutions for all classes of medical devices and robotics solutions, Andy will be a great asset to our team,” said Dennis Fuccione, president & co-founder of MedAcuity. “He is motivated by bringing innovative products to the market that improve people’s health and well-being, and will focus on developing common sense QA practices and expanding our QA service offerings for our MedTech software development projects.” About MedAcuity MedAcuity is a specialized engineering firm that focuses on medical technology software development. The trusted and experienced firm was founded in 2007 by a team of seasoned software engineers who identified opportunities to fill gaps in the engineering expertise and efficiency facing the medical technology industry. MedAcuity offers extensive experience across the MedTech industry with full life-cycle software development and subspecialties in other areas including tool validation, algorithm development, and cybersecurity. www.medacuitysoftware.com Contact Details SVM PR Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.medacuitysoftware.com/

October 12, 2022 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Fullintel Appoints James Rubec as Head of Product

Fullintel, LLC

Fullintel, a leading media monitoring and analysis services company specializing in human curation combined with powerful predictive intelligence, is pleased to announce it has appointed James Rubec its new Head of Product. A former senior director of product management and director of content and licensing management at Cision and Cision Canada, Rubec is an industry leader with a history of thought leadership and innovative data storytelling around how media influences the world around us. Rubec has used data to predict elections, uncover societal trends, and improve internal business processes. His work has appeared in outlets such as The Financial Post, Yahoo Finance, Variety Magazine, and the CBC. Helping communicators understand the media landscape and capitalize on opportunities Rubec has now joined Fullintel to collaborate with clients to identify opportunities and use cases for PredictiveAI™, Fullintel’s human-in-the-loop machine learning solution designed to predict the virality of media stories and social posts. “My goal is to help PR professionals tell more effective stories and help organizations take advantage of the predictive tooling that Fullintel has developed,” says Rubec. “By better understanding the landscape through PredictiveAI™, communicators can identify an issue before it becomes a crisis or better identify stories that should be amplified to make them powerful promotional tools. We’re taking PR past gut instinct and into data science.” He’ll be focused on expanding the product roadmap for PredictiveAI™, to make it an even more agile and flexible tool as part of the Fullintel Hub, Fullintel’s real-time media monitoring platform. A history of using data to improve products and processes Rubec got his start as a reporter in Ottawa, Ontario and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, working as a PR professional in Toronto before transitioning to the media intelligence space nearly a decade ago. Since then he’s primarily focused on building tools and processes to help organizations move faster, engage the media more efficiently, and better understand their industries. “James has shown he’s a leader who can motivate action through data,” said Fullintel President Andrew Koeck. “He’ll work closely with our clients to evolve our software offerings and build a product roadmap to leverage our real-time monitoring and analysis tools, to provide insights and data never before available from any vendor.” Rubec’s addition builds on Fullintel’s growing momentum in the PR measurement industry, culminating in the company winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards at the 2021 AMEC Awards for media measurement. His hiring follows Fullintel’s hiring of Angela Dwyer as Head of Insights, and the company’s shortlisting for five 2022 AMEC Awards for outstanding media measurement. Fullintel combines best-in-class technology with expert content curation to deliver the most relevant, cost optimized media monitoring, daily news briefs, and media analysis possible. Our analysts curate print, online, social media, broadcast, and influencer opinions in real time – compiled by technology, supplemented and verified by humans. Where technology alone fails, your dedicated analyst has you covered. Fullintel has offices in Cambridge, Mass., Ottawa, Ont., and Nagercoil, India. Contact Details Samuel Chen +1 339-970-8005 schen@fullintel.com Company Website https://fullintel.com/

October 12, 2022 10:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AIHM Annual Conference Features More than 50 International Leaders in Integrative Health and Medicine

Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine

The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) is hosting its 2022 conference October 28 to 30, 2022, at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego. For the first time, the hybrid conference will occur in-person and virtually and includes dozens of speakers such as Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Mimi Guarneri, Dr. Shamini Jain, Dr. Scott Shannon, Dr. Sara Gottfried, Dr. Romie Mushtaq, and many more. During the event, hundreds of healthcare workers presenting a vast array of industries and professions will learn about the latest in evidence-based integrative health and medicine through various presentations, panels and networking events. Attendees are also able to earn CME credits for attending both in-person and online. "After taking the conference virtual during COVID, we decided to create a hybrid model and expand how people can attend and participate at our 2022 conference," said Tabatha Parker, Executive Director, AIHM. "Both in-person and virtual tracks provide a rich and engaging educational experience that cultivates community and networking opportunities," she added. This year's program includes thought-provoking discussions on topics in the news such as diversity, equity and inclusion in health education, anti-racism in medicine, climate change and healthcare, and utilizing psychedelics in integrative health. AIHM also designed a unique conference experience to nourish the mind and body with unique self-care activities, healthy food and a regenerative location in nature for attendees. For more information, including a full list of speakers and topics, please go to www.aihm.org/conference. Please note that in-person registration is limited and filling quickly. About AIHM Founded in 1978, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) is the leading interprofessional organization for traditional, complementary, and integrative health practitioners worldwide. In 2021, AIHM merged with the Academic Collaborative of Integrative Health (ACIH). Together, they are working to advance integrative health on a global scale and transform healthcare through education, leadership, collaboration, research, and advocacy. Founded in 1978, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) is the leading interprofessional organization for traditional, complementary and integrative health practitioners worldwide. In 2001, AIHM merged with the Academic Collaborative of Integrative Health (ACIH). Together, they are working to advance integrative health on a global scale and transform health and wellness through education, leadership, collaboration, research and advocacy. For more information, visit aihm.org or follow @aihmglobal on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Contact Details AIHM Caitlin Marinaro +1 858-240-9033 cmarinaro@aihm.org Company Website https://aihm.org

October 12, 2022 09:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Mighty Mitochondria: This Company is Developing A Novel Drug for Kidney Disease By Targeting The Powerhouse Of Human Cells

Unicycive Therapeautics, Inc.

You may remember learning that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells, but do you know the dangers that result if these cell superheroes get sick? In addition to powering healthy cells, mitochondria are also important players in certain diseases. This is especially true in kidney disease. While kidney cells make up only 1% of our body weight, they consume over 10% of our daily energy supply. When either acute or chronic disease strikes these vital organs, the health of the mitochondria can literally be the difference between life and death. Specialized pores inside the mitochondria called mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores regulate programmed cell death—or apoptosis. Under disease conditions, MPT pores are stuck open allowing fluid to rush in causing swelling which leads to the death of the cell. What if you could close these pores? Would that restore the normal function of damaged mitochondria and possibly be a cure for disease? That’s just what a California-based biotechnology company specializing in diseases of the kidney is hoping to do. Unicycive Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UNCY) recently announced findings from a preclinical trial for their drug called UNI-494 that reduced a known biomarker of ischemic injury that is present in acute kidney injury (AKI), a result described as “very encouraging” by a leading expert in the field of AKI research. UNI-494 is a potent activator of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive (ATP) potassium channel (mitoKATP). That’s important because when these channels are activated, they close the MPT pores and prevent the damage that leads to cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with kidney issues, including (AKI). Affecting over 13 million people worldwide each year, AKI increases the risk of mortality by 23.9% in adults and 13.8% in children. Companies like DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and Akebia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AKBA) are among the companies seeking solutions to a variety of renal diseases. Unbelievably, however, there are still no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for AKI. Sadly, damage to mitochondria is seen in other diseases as well, including cardiovascular, liver and eye degeneration. While Unicycive is initially focused on producing a treatment for AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD), it believes that the mechanism of action of UNI-494 may also be applicable for the treatment of other diseases where the mitochondria are affected. The company is now beginning its next milestone, filing to begin Phase 1 human trials of the drug. “We are excited to report this key finding,” Unicycive CEO Dr. Shalabh Gupta said. “We remain on track to file a regulatory submission by the end of 2022 that will allow us to initiate our Phase 1 study with UNI-494.” If the FDA approves the drug, it would be the first drug for AKI available on the market. Unicycive Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for kidney diseases. Unicycive’s lead drug, Renazorb, is a novel phosphate binding agent being developed for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia. UNI-494 is a patent-protected new chemical entity in late preclinical development for the treatment of acute kidney injury. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Anne Marie Fields - Stern Investor Relations +1 212-362-1200 annemarie.fields@sternir.com Company Website https://unicycive.com/

October 12, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How Trauma Can Affect Disaster Survivors

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Beyond the physical devastation of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, there could be emotional and psychological trauma with long-lasting impact. According to the National Institute of Health, the negative mental health effects of a disaster such as Hurricane Ian are not unusual, especially among children, women and the dependent elderly population who suddenly feel even more vulnerable. “Any disaster has the potential to trigger psychological/emotional distress and even post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders,” said Dr. Michele Nealon, Psy.D., President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. “Studies show that suicide can increase 23 percent or more after a catastrophic event and minor symptoms can quickly escalate.” Dr. Nealon says disaster survivors may experience many different signs and symptoms, including: Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event Avoiding thinking or talking about places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed Trouble sleeping, eating or concentrating For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include: Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms, should be encouraged to check in with a mental health professional or their primary care physician to access the support they need, advises Dr. Nealon. “For the thousands who are affected by something like Hurricane Ian--many of whom live in rural areas or are from underprivileged communities-- access to counselors and psychologists may be difficult. As natural disasters continue to increase and worsen, we need to do a better job of ensuring that survivors can get the services they need. Developing the mental health pipeline of diverse mental health practitioners is more important than ever before,” she said. About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Integrating theory with hands-on experience, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides education rooted in a commitment to innovation, service, and community for thousands of diverse students across the United States and globally. Founded in 1979, the nonprofit, regionally accredited university now features campuses in iconic locations across the country (Chicago, Southern California, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas) and online. To spark positive change in the world where it matters most, The Chicago School has continued to expand its educational offerings beyond the field of psychology to offer more than 30 degrees and certificates in the professional fields of health services, education, counseling, business, and more. Through its engaged professional model of education, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an extensive network of domestic and international professional partnerships, The Chicago School’s students receive real-world training opportunities that reflect their future careers. The Chicago School is proud to be a part of TCS Education System, a nonprofit, integrated system of colleges and universities that works collaboratively to advance student success and community impact. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu. # Contact Details The Chicago School of Professional Psychology vivien +1 323-893-4743 vhao@thechicagoschool.edu

October 11, 2022 01:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

New PathPresenter Website Features Pathologist-built Enterprise Image Sharing Platform for Clinical Care, Education, and Research

PathPresenter

PathPresenter, the image sharing platform for pathology, today announced the launch of its new website ( www.pathpresenter.com ). The site focuses on PathPresenter’s enterprise workflow platform, trusted by more than 25 tier-one institutions around the world for clinical care, education, and research. The informational website complements PathPresenter’s popular public imaging sharing platform, which has a global community of 45,000+ users in 172 countries. The new website highlights PathPresenter’s end-to-end enterprise solution and how it benefits pathologists, clinicians, researchers, and institutions in three key areas of pathology practice: Clinical Care: A pathologist-built enterprise platform empowering pathologists to receive, view, and sign out cases from their institution – or from cases uploaded from around the world – directly in their institution’s existing LIS, bringing the control and organization of the clinical workflow back to the end user. Education: The most comprehensive platform available to bring pathology curriculum to digital life for academic medical centers, reference labs, pharma companies, and AI vendors. Research: A powerful platform enabling researchers to collaborate globally, through centralizing the collection of annotations, labels, and slide level metadata across institutional datasets. At the core of the platform is PathPresenter Exchange, a powerful image management system that manages all aspects of the workflow – from scanner-agnostic WSI upload and quality control to lag-free image viewing, HL7 communications with institution LIS systems, and seamless integration with 3 rd party AI models. The enterprise platform is supported by over 100,000+ hours of real-world usage on Microsoft Azure Cloud, 24/7 monitoring by Vanta for HIPAA compliance, and successful deployments in multiple international high security and compliance institutions. Complementing the new website site is a growing Learn section, which features articles, news, blog, publication, and webinars and events. “Increasingly, pathologists, clinicians, researchers, and institutions are seeking out digital workflow that is practical and easily integrated with 3 rd party tools and the institution’s existing infrastructure,” said Patrick Myles, CEO of PathPresenter. “With a platform that is guided and built by pathologists, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem to better serve patients, train the next generation of digital pathologists, and share and spread pathology knowledge across the globe.” About PathPresenter PathPresenter is the image sharing platform for pathology, on a mission to democratize access to the world’s pathology knowledge by connecting pathologists to the vast expertise of their colleagues globally and providing a practical platform to access and use best-in-class AI models. Founded in 2017 by dermatopathologist and digital pathology pioneer, Dr. Rajendra Singh, PathPresenter has been adopted by 25+ tier one medical institutions for clinical care, education, and research, and has built a thriving community of 45,000+ users in 172 countries to easily view and share digital pathology images and knowledge. For more information visit www.pathpresenter.com. Contact Details Cory Batenchuk +1 873-355-9913 cory@pathpresenter.com Company Website https://pathpresenter.net

October 10, 2022 12:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

PathPresenter Founder, Dr. Rajendra Singh, Honored by the College of American Pathologists with Lifetime Achievement Award

PathPresenter

PathPresenter founder, Dr. Rajendra Singh, MD, FCAP, has been honored by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his commitment and dedication to improve the pathology education process and bring it to a new, advanced level using digital pathology. Dr. Singh is a dermatopathologist and founder of PathPresenter, the image sharing platform for pathology, with more than 45,000 users in 172 countries that’s used by more than 25+ academic departments, private pathology groups, and organizations around the world for clinical care, education, and research. His invaluable contributions to teaching residents and fellows earned him the Icahn School of Medicine’s Teacher of the Year Award for five consecutive years. Dr. Singh is a role model to many and a mentor for trainees in the US and outside its borders. During his appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital and Northwell Health, Dr. Singh used his educational platform to advance the implementation of digital pathology, to great effect and general approval. He has proven to be an excellent leader in pathology and was named to The Pathologist magazine’s Power List in 2020, 2021, and 2022. “We developed PathPresenter to create an ecosystem for pathologists, clinicians, researchers and industry to come together and provide innovative digital solutions in pathology,” commented Dr. Rajendra Singh, founder of PathPresenter. “We are pleased and honored to see how the platform has been able to better serve our patients, train new doctors, and share and spread pathology knowledge.” Established in 2006, the CAP Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes and honors members who have made a broad and positive impact on the pathology profession through contributions to one or more areas of the organization over an extended period. Dr. Singh received the award at the recent CAP annual meeting in New Orleans. About PathPresenter PathPresenter is the image sharing platform for pathology, on a mission to democratize access to the world’s pathology knowledge by connecting pathologists to the vast expertise of their colleagues globally and providing a practical platform to access and use best-in-class AI models. Founded in 2017 by dermatopathologist and digital pathology pioneer, Dr. Rajendra Singh, PathPresenter has been adopted by 25+ tier one medical institutions for clinical care, education, and research, and has built a thriving community of 45,000+ users in 172 countries to easily view and share digital pathology images and knowledge. For more information visit www.pathpresenter.com. Contact Details Cory Batenchuk +1 873-355-9913 cory@pathpresenter.com Company Website https://pathpresenter.net

October 10, 2022 12:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Drugs And Therapies Are Giving MS And ALS Sufferers New Hope

Pasithea Therapeutics Corp.

People suffering from incurable neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) hope new therapies and drugs will arrive sooner than later. A chronic and inflammatory neurodegenerative disease, MS affects 400,000 people in the United States and 2.1 million people worldwide, according to the latest data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Affecting quality of life, employment, social relationships, and productivity, MS costs the U.S. healthcare system anywhere from $8,528 to $52,244 per patient per year. MS is a potentially disabling disease affecting the brain and spinal cord — the body’s central nervous system. The immune system of those with MS attacks the myelin, the protective sheath covering a person’s nerve fibers. It interrupts communication between the brain and the functions of the body. The end result for many people is permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves. Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently, while others may experience long periods of remission without new symptoms. Recent ALS Research Spurs Optimism Although there is no recent data revealing the number of people in the U.S. affected by ALS, an estimated 31,000 people have the condition and an average of 5,000 new patients are diagnosed each year, according to 2017 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Age-related ALS mainly strikes people between 55 and 75 who live only two to five years after symptoms develop. Also called Lou Gehrig’s disease for the New York Yankee great who died of ALS in 1941, the disease belongs to a broader group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases which cause the gradual deterioration and death of motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells extending from the brain to the spinal cord and muscles throughout the body. As motor neurons degenerate, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which gradually grow weaker, twitch and suffer from atrophy. Eventually, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control most voluntary movements such as walking, chewing, and talking. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) recently announced it’s paying $25 million to kick off a research partnership with biotech startup Cerevance, which analyzes donor brain tissue to find novel targets for new drugs for neurological disorders. Cerevance’s best-known program is geared toward another incurable neurological disease — Parkinson’s — but Merck will determine whether the technology can help it discover and develop new drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Recent news in the MS research space touted Clene Inc. ’s (NASDAQ: CLNN) results from its Phase 2 VISIONARY-MS trial of CNM-Au8, an investigational gold nanocrystal suspension. The trial began before COVID-19 and ended prematurely, limiting enrollment to 73 of the 150 planned participants. Pasithea Advances Trials For MS And ALS Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: KTTA), a biotechnology company focused on researching and discovering new and effective treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders, announced its investigational MS vaccine PAS002. Trials of the vaccine have effectively delayed disease onset and reduced disease severity in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition, according to its preclinical study data. The vaccine, designed to promote immune tolerance to a specific myelin protein, also reduced the severity of relapses and helped the animals gain weight, indicating a better overall health status. “Although early-stage data, we’re thrilled with the results of this study and the strong preclinical efficacy data of our tolerizing approach,” Pasithea CEO Dr. Tiago Reis said. Pasithea Therapeutics has also recently received a $700,000 grant to further its research into anti-integrin antibodies as potential treatments for ALS. The company is developing a monoclonal antibody (mAbs) for treating ALS and other neuroinflammatory disorders. A particular integrin, called alpha-5/beta-1 or fibronectin receptor, has been found at high levels in certain immune cells in an animal model of ALS carrying mutations in the SOD1 gene. Mutations in this gene are estimated to account for up to 20% of familial ALS cases and up to 3% of sporadic ALS cases. The Alpha-5/beta 1 study found that integrin expression is significantly increased in ALS animal models and post-mortem human ALS and significantly upregulated with disease progression. Pasithea has multiple monoclonal antibody candidates against the alpha-5/beta-1 integrin. Treatment with these antibodies has extended survival and improved motor function in the SOD1 mice model of ALS, suggesting a novel mechanism to treat patients with ALS. For more information on Pasithea Therapeutics, visit www.pasithea.com. Pasithea Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, research and development of new and effective treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. With an experienced team of experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychopharmacology, Pasithea is developing new molecular entities for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Pasithea addresses the needs of patients currently suffering with mental illness by providing access to IV ketamine infusions both in clinics and in-home settings. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details TraDigital IR- Camille Baptiste camille@tradigitalir.com Company Website https://www.pasithea.com/

October 10, 2022 09:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University research unveils association between plasma metabolites and COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered patients

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 10 October 2022 - A study led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has revealed the association between rapidly fading antibody levels in some recovered COVID-19 patients and a high plasma concentration of a metabolite called glycylproline (gly-pro) and its producing enzyme. A research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei (left) and Dr Yang Zhu (right) has revealed the association between rapidly fading antibody levels in some recovered COVID-19 patients and a high plasma concentration of a metabolite called gly-pro and its producing enzyme. The researchers also found that the application of an inhibiting agent can counteract the activities of gly-pro and its producing enzyme, and this helped to maintain COVID-19 antibody levels in a mouse model. The findings offer important insights that could aid the development of novel therapeutic and vaccination strategies against the virus. The research results have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a renowned international scientific journal. Antibody levels drop in some recovered COVID-19 patients The levels of COVID-19 antibodies among individuals in a community are crucial for herd immunity against the virus. In general, recovered COVID-19 patients have high antibody levels as a result of their natural immune reactions. However, antibody levels in some recovered COVID-19 patients have been seen to drop rapidly over the course of a few weeks, and the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains poorly understood. Since the beginning of the pandemic, research studies have revealed changes in plasma cytokine and metabolite levels in COVID-19 patients. Based on these observations, a research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, and Dr Yang Zhu, the first author of this paper and a Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU, investigated how plasma cytokines and metabolites are associated with antibody levels in recovered COVID-19 patients. Metabolite gly-pro associated with antibody levels The research team analysed the cytokine and metabolite profiles in the plasma samples of three subject groups. The first group included 17 recovered COVID-19 patients with steady COVID-19 antibody levels; the second group included 30 recovered COVID-19 patients with rapidly fading COVID-19 antibody levels; the third one was a control group comprising 35 individuals who had not been infected with COVID-19. A series of quantitative computational analyses that involved the use of machine learning techniques were used to compare the levels of different plasma cytokines and metabolites in the three subject groups in relation to their COVID-19 antibody levels. The researchers then compared the two recovered patient groups with the control group, and any cytokines and metabolites with significantly different levels between the two groups and the control group were shortlisted. Among the shortlisted targets, the levels of seven cytokines and 20 metabolites were seen to differ significantly between the two groups of recovered COVID-19 patients. The researchers then analysed the association between the selected cytokines and metabolites and COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered patients. From the collected data, they concluded that the plasma concentration of the metabolite gly-pro had increased the most in the two recovered patient groups compared with the control group. Overall, the levels of gly-pro in the recovered patient group with rapidly fading antibody levels were four times higher than the control group, while the levels of gly-pro in the recovered patient group with steady COVID-19 antibody levels were two-and-a-half times higher than the control group. Based on these results, the researchers investigated the relationship between COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered patients and gly-pro, as well as the producing enzyme of gly-pro which is named dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4). Inhibiting gly-pro maintains steady antibody levels The research team set up a four-week mouse model experiment to test the hypothesis that high gly-pro levels are associated with a rapid drop in COVID-19 antibody levels in recovered COVID-19 patients. Four groups of 12 mice were injected with the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus. The groups were then respectively treated with: (1) exogenous gly-pro; (2) an inhibitor that blocks the degradation of endogenous gly-pro; (3) exogenous gly-pro and a DPP4 inhibitor (Sitagliptin, which is also an anti-diabetic drug); and (4) saline. The serum COVID-19 antibody levels in all groups were similar in the first week of the experiment. The antibody levels of the mice in the first group declined after the second week, suggesting that increased gly-pro levels are associated with a decline in COVID-19 antibody levels. The antibody levels of the mice in the second group, who had relatively steady gly-pro levels, also began to decline in the third week. The slower decline in antibody levels in the second group of mice compared to the first group shows that varying amounts of gly-pro are associated with the amount of time a steady antibody level can be maintained. Meanwhile, the antibody levels of the mice in the third group remained stable throughout the experiment. This shows that when the activities of DPP4 are inhibited, the negative effects of gly-pro can be neutralised, and a steady level of COVID-19 antibodies can be maintained. New insights for therapeutic and disease control strategies Professor Cai said: “Effective shield immunity for a community against the spread of COVID-19 is highly dependent on the maintenance of steady antibody levels in individuals. Our experimental results suggest that DPP4 inhibitors can effectively maintain steady antibody levels in COVID-19-infected mice. As a result, our study offers important insights into how we can develop a similar medical approach to maintain COVID-19 antibody levels in humans, which will contribute to the global fight against the pandemic.” Dr Yang said: “Further studies based on our research findings are warranted to explore the potential in other areas of therapeutic and disease control, especially in terms of other applications. For example, novel strategies may be developed to enhance the efficiency of vaccination in boosting antibody levels in humans, particularly in diabetic patients, a well-known high-risk population for COVID-19.” Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office, HKBU Winnie Shum +852 3411 5262 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

October 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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