using the Prevenar-13 vaccine. Twenty-four healthy male volunteers were vaccinated with Prevenar-13, either three times, twice or once in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized single... Show moreusing the Prevenar-13 vaccine. Twenty-four healthy male volunteers were vaccinated with Prevenar-13, either three times, twice or once in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized single center clinical study. Anti-pneumococcal wall, oxLDL and phosphorycholine antibody levels were measured at a fixed serum dilution, as well as circulating lipid levels over the course of 68 weeks. A significant increase in anti-oxLDL IgG and IgM was seen in the group receiving two doses six months apart compared to the placebo. However, these differences were not observed in the groups receiving a single dose, two doses one month apart, or three doses. This study shows that vaccination with Prevenar-13 does not result in robust anti-oxLDL IgM levels in humans. Further research would be required to test alternative pneumococcal-based vaccines, vaccination regimens or study populations, such as cardiovascular disease patients. Show less
Gencer, B.; Moutzouri, E.; Blum, M.R.; Feller, M.; Collet, T.H.; Delgiovane, C.; ... ; Rodondi, N. 2020
BACKGROUND: Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with heart failure, but only small trials assessed whether treatment with levothyroxine has an impact on cardiac function.METHODS: In a... Show moreBACKGROUND: Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with heart failure, but only small trials assessed whether treatment with levothyroxine has an impact on cardiac function.METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial nested within the TRUST trial, Swiss participants ages >= 65 years with subclinical hypothyroidism (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] 4.60-19.99 mIU/L; free thyroxine level within reference range) were randomized to levothyroxine (starting dose of 50 mu g daily) to achieve TSH normalization or placebo. The primary outcomes were the left ventricular ejection fraction for systolic function and the ratio between mitral peak velocity of early filling to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e' ratio) for diastolic function. Secondary outcomes included e' lateral/septal, left atrial volume index, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure.RESULTS: A total of 185 participants (mean age 74.1 years, 47% women) underwent echocardiography at the end of the trial. After a median treatment duration of 18.4 months, the mean TSH decreased from 6.35 mIU/L to 3.55 mIU/L with levothyroxine (n = 96), and it remained elevated at 5.29 mIU/L with placebo (n = 89). The adjusted between-group difference was not significant for the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (62.7% vs 62.5%, difference = 0.4%, 95% confidence interval -1.8% to 2.5%, P = 0.72) and the E/e' ratio (10.6 vs 10.1, difference 0.4, 95% confidence interval -0.7 to 1.4, P = 0.47). No differences were found for the secondary diastolic function parameters or for interaction according to sex, baseline TSH, preexisting heart failure, and treatment duration (P value > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Systolic and diastolic heart function did not differ after treatment with levothyroxine compared with placebo in older adults with mild subclinical hypothyroidism. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Show less
