Durability of humoral immune responses to rubella following MMR vaccination

BackgroundWhile administration of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR-II®) vaccine has been effective at preventing rubella infection in the United States, the durability of humoral immunity to the rubella component of MMR vaccine has not been widely studied among older adolescents and adults.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, we sought to assess the durability of rubella virus (RV)-specific humoral immunity in a healthy population (n = 98) of adolescents and young adults at two timepoints: ~7 and ~17 years after two doses of MMR-II® vaccination. Levels of circulating antibodies specific to RV were measured by ELISA and an immune-colorimetric neutralization assay. RV-specific memory B cell responses were also measured by ELISpot.ResultsRubella-specific IgG antibody titers, neutralizing antibody titers, and memory B cell responses declined with increasing time since vaccination; however, these decreases were relatively moderate. Memory B cell responses exhibited a greater decline in men compared to women.ConclusionsCollectively, rubella-specific humoral immunity declines following vaccination, although subjects’ antibody titers remain well above the currently recognized threshold for protective immunity. Clinical correlates of protection based on neutralizing antibody titer and memory B cell ELISpot response should be defined.     

Influenza vaccination and the endurance against air pollution among elderly with acute coronary syndrome

ObjectiveAir pollution, weather condition and influenza are known risk factors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among elderly people. The influenza vaccine (IV) has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to compare resistance to air pollution and weather factors causing ACS between vaccinated and less-vaccinated elderly people.MethodsA case–crossover design was applied to 1835 elderly ACS patients who were obtained from the 1-million sample of Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Data with inclusion criteria: (1) the first diagnosis of ACS was in cold season and at age 68 or more, (2) had received the free IV program at least once during the period 3 years before the ACS. They were stratified into two groups: 707 had received flu vaccinations for all the 3 years and the remaining 1128 had not. The measurements of air pollutants, temperature, and humidity corresponding to each of the 3 days prior to the ACS diagnosis date were retrieved from the data banks of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and Central Weather Bureau.FindingsIncreases in air pollution concentrations of CO, NO₂, PM₁₀ or PM_2.5 and decreases in temperature significantly influenced the risk of ACS for the non-continuously vaccinated elderly population; however, less significant effects were observed for the continuously vaccinated population.ConclusionConsecutive influenza vaccination may potentially offer resistance against the detrimental effects of air pollution and changes in temperature in frail elderly adults with ACS. Future studies are needed to directly assess the interaction effect between the vaccination and environmental factors on ACS.     

广州市社区居民慢性鼻窦炎家庭聚集性分析

目的了解广东省广州市社区居民慢性鼻窦炎的家庭聚集性规律,为进一步探讨疾病的遗传因素或环境因素提供参考依据。方法采用多阶段分层随机抽样在广州市4个街道8个社区抽取的517户共1521名社区居民进行问卷调查;采用β-二项分布拟合优度的χ2检验和G统计量检验对慢性鼻窦炎家庭聚集性进行定性分析,家庭聚集性的大小估计采用组内相关系数表示。结果广州市社区居民慢性鼻窦炎患病率为8.42%,男性和女性居民慢性鼻窦炎患病率分别为9.10%和7.75%,≤18、19~35、36~59和≥60岁居民鼻窦炎患病率分别为6.79%、10.13%、7.28%和9.27%,不同性别、年龄居民慢性鼻窦炎患病率差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);慢性鼻窦炎在家庭内分布符合β-二项分布(χ2=3.717,P=0.054),总聚集率为22.22%;慢性鼻窦炎在不同家庭内发病概率不等(T=5.222,P<0.001);组内相关系数为0.094(Z=5.769,P<0.001);不同慢性鼻窦炎患病情况家庭比较,不同家庭居住情况、养宠物情况、家里是否铺大片地毯、住处使用的燃料类型和每月吃鱼/海鲜、水果、豆制品的频率差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论广州市社区居民慢性鼻窦炎存在家庭聚集性,其聚集程度较弱,但其家庭聚集性与家庭环境因素和饮食习惯有关。     

Correlates of cigarette and alternative tobacco product use among young tobacco users experiencing homelessness

IntroductionMost young people experiencing homelessness smoke cigarettes, but little is known about use of alternative tobacco products (ATPs) such as e-cigarettes or other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs). This study examines past month use and correlates of cigarettes and ATP among young tobacco users experiencing homelessness.MethodsWe surveyed a probability sample of N = 469 unaccompanied homeless 13–25 year olds (mean age = 22; 71% male), who reported past month use of any type of tobacco product, from 25 service and street sites in Los Angeles County.ResultsNearly all (90%) participants reported smoking regular cigarettes, and 78% reported using at least one tobacco product other than regular cigarettes. The most commonly used of these other products was natural cigarettes (55%), followed by LCCs (43%), ENDS (34%), cigars (31%), hookah (14%), chewing tobacco (7%), and snus (5%). Multivariable models indicated that correlates of past month use differed by product, but included sociodemographic characteristics, homelessness severity, depression, exposure to other people who used the product, and product perceptions (e.g., relative access, cost, and harm compared to cigarettes).ConclusionUse of cigarettes and ATPs are both widespread among young homeless tobacco users, suggesting that efforts to reduce tobacco use in this population should have a broad focus that includes a variety of products. The effectiveness of these efforts may be enhanced by addressing their considerable exposure to other tobacco users, as well as their perceptions of certain products as being less harmful or more cost-effective options than regular cigarettes.