The messenger RNA (mRNA)–based vaccines BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are more than 90% effective against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). However, their comparative effectiveness for a range of outcomes across diverse populations is unknown. We emulated a target trial using the electronic health records of U.S. veterans who received a first dose of the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccine between January 4 and May 14, 2021, during a period marked by predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant. We matched recipients of each vaccine in a 1:1 ratio according to their risk factors. Outcomes included documented severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, symptomatic Covid-19, hospitalization for Covid-19, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for Covid-19, and death from Covid-19. We estimated risks using the Kaplan–Meier estimator. To assess the influence of the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant, we emulated a second target trial that involved veterans vaccinated between July 1 and September 20, 2021. Each vaccine group included 219,842 persons. Over 24 weeks of follow-up in a period marked by alpha-variant predominance, the estimated risk of documented infection was 5.75 events per 1000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.39 to 6.23) in the BNT162b2 group and 4.52 events per 1000 persons (95% CI, 4.17 to 4.84) in the mRNA-1273 group. The excess number of events per 1000 persons for BNT162b2 as compared with mRNA-1273 was 1.23 (95% CI, 0.72 to 1.81) for documented infection, 0.44 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.70) for symptomatic Covid-19, 0.55 (95% CI, 0.36 to 0.83) for hospitalization for Covid-19, 0.10 (95% CI, 0.00 to 0.26) for ICU admission for Covid-19, and 0.02 (95% CI, −0.06 to 0.12) for death from Covid-19. The corresponding excess risk (BNT162b2 vs. mRNA-1273) of documented infection over 12 weeks of follow-up in a period marked by delta-variant predominance was 6.54 events per 1000 persons (95% CI, −2.58 to 11.82). The 24-week risk of Covid-19 outcomes was low after vaccination with mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2, although risks were lower with mRNA-1273 than with BNT162b2. This pattern was consistent across periods marked by alpha- and delta-variant predominance. (Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and others.)

Adipose tissue is a heterogeneous organ with remarkable variations in fat cell metabolism depending on the anatomical location. However, the pattern and distribution of bioactive lipid mediators between different fat depots and their relationships in complex diseases have not been investigated. Using LC-MS/MS-based metabolo-lipidomics, here we report that human subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissues possess a range of specialized proresolving mediators (SPM) including resolvin (Rv) D1, RvD2, protectin (PD) 1, lipoxin (LX) A₄, and the monohydroxy biosynthetic pathway markers of RvD1 and PD1 (17-HDHA), RvE1 (18-HEPE), and maresin 1 (14-HDHA). The “classic” eicosanoids prostaglandin (PG) E₂, PGD₂, PGF_2α, leukotriene (LT) B₄, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), 12-HETE, and 15-HETE were also identified in SC fat. SC fat from patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) exhibited a marked deficit in PD1 and 17-HDHA levels. Compared with SC, perivascular adipose tissue displayed higher SPM levels, suggesting an enhanced resolution capacity in this fat depot. In addition, augmented levels of eicosanoids and SPM were observed in SC fat surrounding foot wounds. Notably, the profile of SC PGF_2α differed significantly when patients were grouped by body mass index (BMI). In the case of peri-wound SC fat, BMI negatively correlated with PGE_2. In this tissue, proresolving mediators RvD2 and LXA₄ were identified in lower levels than the proinflammatory LTB₄. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a diverse distribution of bioactive lipid mediators depending on the localization of human fat depots and uncover a specific SPM pattern closely associated with PVD.

Purpose: Wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumors (WT-GISTs) that lack KIT or PDGFRA mutations represent a unique subtype of GIST that predominantly affects children. We sought to determine the effect on event-free survival (EFS) of staging variables, extent of resection, and repeat resection of tumors. Methods: In 2008, a WT-GIST clinic was established at the National Cancer Institute, allowing the development of a large clinical database. We included participants who underwent resection of WT-GIST. Associations with EFS (ie, freedom from disease progression or recurrence) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: Among 76 participants with WT-GISTs, the median follow-up was 4.1 years. Overall EFS (± SE) was 72.6 ± 5.4% at 1 year, 57.6 ± 6.2% at 2 years, 23.7 ± 6.0% at 5 years, and 16.3 ± 5.5% at 10 years postoperatively. Hazard of disease progression or recurrence was significantly increased for patients with metastatic disease (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.1; P = .04) and > 5 mitoses per 50 high-power fields (AHR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 6.0; P = .03), whereas there was no significant effect of negative microscopic resection margins (AHR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4 to 2.2; P = 0.86). There was no association between type of gastric resection (ie, anatomic v partial/wedge) and EFS ( P = .67). Repeated resection after the initial resection was significantly associated with decreasing postoperative EFS ( P < .01). Five patients (6%) died after initial enrollment in 2008. Conclusion: WT-GIST is an indolent disease, and most patients survive with disease progression. We found no improvement in EFS with more extensive or serial resections. Disease progression or recurrence may be more closely related to tumor biology than surgical management. These data suggest that resections for WT-GISTs be restricted to the initial procedure and that subsequent resections be performed only to address symptoms such as obstruction or bleeding.