A prime-boost concept using a T-cell epitope-driven DNA vaccine followed by a whole virus vaccine effectively protected pigs in the pandemic H1N1 pig challenge model

Influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines in pigs generally provide homosubtypic protection but fail to prevent heterologous infections. In this pilot study, the efficacy of an intradermal pDNA vaccine composed of conserved SLA class I and class II T cell epitopes (EPITOPE) against a homosubtypic challenge was compared to an intramuscular commercial inactivated whole virus vaccine (INACT) and a heterologous prime boost approach using both vaccines. Thirty-nine IAV-free, 3-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to one of five groups including NEG-CONTROL (unvaccinated, sham-challenged), INACT-INACT-IAV (vaccinated with FluSure XP® at 4 and 7 weeks, pH1N1 challenged), EPITOPE-INACT-IAV (vaccinated with PigMatrix EDV at 4 and FluSure XP® at 7 weeks, pH1N1 challenged), EPITOPE-EPITOPE-IAV (vaccinated with PigMatrix EDV at 4 and 7 weeks, pH1N1 challenged), and a POS-CONTROL group (unvaccinated, pH1N1 challenged). The challenge was done at 9 weeks of age and pigs were necropsied at day post challenge (dpc) 5. At the time of challenge, all INACT-INACT-IAV pigs, and by dpc 5 all EPITOPE-INACT-IAV pigs were IAV seropositive. IFNγ secreting cells, recognizing vaccine epitope-specific peptides and pH1N1 challenge virus were highest in the EPITOPE-INACT-IAV pigs at challenge. Macroscopic lung lesion scores were reduced in all EPITOPE-INACT-IAV pigs while INACT-INACT-IAV pigs exhibited a bimodal distribution of low and high scores akin to naïve challenged animals. No IAV antigen in lung tissues was detected at necropsy in the EPITOPE-INACT-IAV group, which was similar to naïve unchallenged pigs and different from all other challenged groups. Results suggest that the heterologous prime boost approach using an epitope-driven DNA vaccine followed by an inactivated vaccine was effective against a homosubtypic challenge, and further exploration of this vaccine approach as a practical control measure against heterosubtypic IAV infections is warranted.     

Effect of Tropicamide on Laser Flare Meter Measurements in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the effect of 1% tropicamide on anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) measurements acquired with laser flare meter in patients with pseudoexfoliation.     

Isolated Donor Specific Alloantibody-Mediated Rejection after ABO Compatible Liver Transplantation

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after liver transplantation is recognized in ABO incompatible and xeno-transplantation, but its role after ABO compatible liver transplantation is controversial. We report a case of ABO compatible liver transplantation that demonstrated clinical, serological and histological signs of AMR without evidence of concurrent acute cellular rejection. AMR with persistently high titers of circulating donor specific antibodies resulted in graft injury with initial centrilobular hepatocyte necrosis, fibroedematous portal expansion mimicking biliary tract outflow obstruction, ultimately resulting in extensive bridging fibrosis. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated persistent, diffuse linear C4d deposits along sinusoids and central veins. Despite intense therapeutic intervention including plasmapheresis, IVIG and rituximab, AMR led to graft failure. We present evidence that an antibody-mediated alloresponse to an ABO compatible liver graft can cause significant graft injury independent of acute cellular rejection. AMR shows distinct histologic changes including a characteristic staining profile for C4d.     

冠心病患者肱动脉血管内皮依赖性舒张功能的超声检测

目的 利用高频超声评价冠心病（CAD）患者肱动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能（EDD）及其临床意义。方法 对113例连续冠脉造影（CAG）受检者术前行高频超声检查肱动脉EDD，并对两种检查结果进行相关性分析。结果 冠脉狭窄组、急性心肌梗死（AMI）组肱动脉EDD明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）；AMI组EDD显著低于心肌缺血组（P〈0．01）。结论CAD患者的EDD明显降低。     

老年脑梗死患者急性期血小板活化功能定量检测

目的 :探讨老年脑梗死患者外周血中血小板膜糖蛋白变化的临床意义。　方法 :应用流式细胞术检测了 6 8例急性期老年脑梗死患者外周血血小板活化分子标记物CD4 1、CD6 2p和CD6 3的含量水平 ,与 4 2例正常老年人对照 ;并对脑梗死组病灶大小、梗死部位、病情分级等与血小板活化分子表达的变化进行分析 ,应用统计学进行处理。　结果 :急性期脑梗死患者血小板粘附分子CD4 1、CD6 2 p和CD6 3的表达水平显著高于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,且与梗死灶大小及病情分级密切相关 ,与梗死部位无关。　结论 :老年脑梗死患者急性期外周血血小板活化功能明显增强 ,为早期应用抗血小板聚集药物的治疗提供了实验依据     

普拉固和鱼油对高胆固醇血症患者血脂与心脑血管事件影响的比较

目的:比较普拉固和鱼油对高胆固醇血症患者的血脂、血粘度、血管内皮功能和心脑血管事件的影响。方法:对266例原发性高胆固醇血症患者经2周洗脱期后,随机分为两组,普拉固组,初服10mg,每晚一次,8周后若TC仍>5.2mmol/L,LDL—ch>3.12mmol/L,则加量至20mg/d,每8周再查血脂,以达到TC<5.2mmol/L,LDL—ch<3.12mmol/L的量作治疗量继续服用。鱼油组,服美国深海鱼油一日三次,一次3g,均于服药8周复查血脂、血粘度及血管内皮功能等并作16月随访。结果:治疗8周,TC,普拉固组下降26％,鱼油组下降12％(P<0.01)。LDL—ch,普拉固组下降31％,鱼油组下降11％(P<0.01),肱动脉流量介导的舒张与硝酸甘油介导的舒张,普拉固组分别增加104％和19％,鱼油组无明显改变。全血低切粘度,普拉固组减少23％,鱼油组减少10％(P<0.01)。平均随访16月,普拉固组中脑出血1例(0.8％),鱼油组发生心脑血管事件7例(5.3％),死亡1例(P<0.05)。两组均无明显的不良反应。结论:普拉固是一个安全有效的降脂药,能改善血管内皮功能,降低血粘度,减少高胆固醇血症病人心脑血管事件发生。     

A case of nocturnal fainting: supine vasovagal syncope.

Supine loss of consciousness is a relatively rare occurrence prompting investigations for underlying causes as diverse as cardiac arrhythmia, hypoglycaemia and nocturnal epilepsy. Neurally mediated syncope is rarely implicated as the cause of symptoms in supine loss of consciousness because of the absence of orthostatic stress and gravitational relative preservation of cerebral perfusion, but we report here on a case of recurrent, atypical and troublesome vasovagal syncope occurring at night while supine. Diagnosis aided by head-up tilt table testing and conservative management brought about complete resolution of symptoms.     

新型纳米根管充填材料对成骨细胞生长的影响

通过体外培养的成骨细胞,采用二甲基噻唑二苯基四唑溴盐比色法和流式细胞术对新型纳米根管充填材料(nHA-PA66)作用下的成骨细胞生长情况的变化进行研究,评价其对成骨细胞生长的影响。以该材料的细胞培养基浸提液作用于实验组细胞,对照组采用培养基本身。实验组和对照组成骨细胞的生长情况和细胞周期无显著性差异,表明该新型纳米材料对成骨细胞的生长和细胞周期无不良影响。提示新型纳米根管充填材料的成骨细胞相容性较好,具有用作根充材料的基础。