The epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in EU/EEA countries, 2004–2014

BackgroundInvasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia although infection by some serogroups may be prevented through vaccination. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of IMD in EU/EEA countries during 2004–2014 to monitor serogroup- and age-specific trends, and compare country trends by the period of meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine introduction.MethodsWe analysed IMD surveillance data by age, gender, serogroup, country and outcome. We estimated the percentage change in annual notification rate (NR), using linear regression analysis of the log of the annual NR. We grouped countries by the year they introduced MCC vaccination into their routine immunisation programmes.ResultsThe overall NR was 0.9/100 000 population, and decreased 6.6% (95%CI: −8.0%;−5.1%) annually. Infants had the highest NR (16.0/100 000), and there were decreasing trends in all age groups <50 years. Serogroup B (SgB) caused 74% of all cases, and the majority of cases in all age groups. There were decreasing trends in SgB and serogroup C (SgC) and an increasing trend in serogroup Y. Countries that introduced MCC vaccination before, and between 2004 and 2014, had decreasing trends in NR of SgC, but not countries without routine MCC vaccination.ConclusionsOur findings support evidence that routine MCC vaccination was the driving force behind the decreasing SgC trend. Vaccinating against SgB in the first year of life could help reduce the burden of IMD due to this serogroup. Changing serogroup-specific NR trends highlight the need for high-quality surveillance data to accurately assess the changing epidemiology of IMD, the effectiveness and impact of implemented vaccines, and the need for future vaccines.     

The Retinohypothalamic tract: Comparison of axonal projection patterns from four major targets

The retinohypothalamic tract is one component of the optic nerve that transmits information about environmental luminance levels through medial and lateral branches to four major terminal fields in the hypothalamus. The spatial distribution and organization of axonal projections from each of these four terminal fields were analyzed and compared systematically with the anterograde pathway tracer PHAL in rats where the terminal fields had been labeled with intravitreal injections of a different anterograde pathway tracer, CTb. First, the well-known projections of two medial retinohypothalamic tract targets (the ventrolateral suprachiasmatic nucleus and perisuprachiasmatic region) were confirmed and extended. They share qualitatively similar projections to a well-known set of brain regions thought to control circadian rhythms. Second, the projections of a third medial tract target, the ventromedial part of the anterior hypothalamic nucleus, were analyzed for the first time and shown to resemble qualitatively those from the suprachiasmatic nucleus and perisuprachiasmatic region. And third, projections from the major lateral retinohypothalamic tract target were analyzed for the first time and shown to be quite different from those associated with medial tract targets. This target is a distinct core part of the ventral zone of the anterior group of the lateral hypothalamic area that lies just dorsal to the caudal two-thirds of the supraoptic nucleus. Its axonal projections are to neural networks that control a range of specific goal-oriented behaviors (especially drinking, reproductive, and defensive) along with adaptively appropriate and complementary visceral responses and adjustments to behavioral state.     

The influence of aquaporin-1 and microvessel density on ovarian carcinogenesis and ascites formation

Abstract.   Yang JH, Shi YF, Chen XD, Qi WJ. The influence of aquaporin-1 and microvessel density on ovarian carcinogenesis and ascites formation. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006; 16(Suppl. 1): 400–405.
This study aimed at investigating aquaporin-1 (AQP1) distribution and expression in primary ovarian epithelial tumors, correlating with clinicopathologic variables and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD). The AQP1 expression and IMD in 105 cases with primary epithelial ovarian tumors were measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemical technique. AQP1 was located mainly in microvessels and small vessels but seldom in tumor cells. Expression of AQP1 and IMD in ovarian malignant tumors was significantly higher than that in borderline tumors ( P = 0.000, P = 0.001, respectively), and that in borderline tumors was higher than in benign tumors ( P = 0.008, P = 0.028, respectively). The expression of AQP1 in FIGO stage III–IV was more than that in stage I–II ( P = 0.001), and cases with ascites volume greater than 1000 mL were more than cases with ascites volume less than 1000 mL ( P = 0.000). There is a positively correlated relationship between expression of AQP1 and IMD (correlation coefficient 0.60, P = 0.000) and between expression of AQP1 and ascites volume (correlation coefficient 0.57, P = 0.000). These data implicate that high AQP1 expression may play an important role in the ovarian carcinogenesis, progression, and ascites formation. Further studies into the mechanism of AQP1 regulation and the relationship between AQP1 expression and tumor angiogenesis may lead to novel therapies for ovarian carcinoma.     

Bactericidal antibody against a representative epidemiological meningococcal serogroup B panel confirms that MATS underestimates 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage

Background

4CMenB (Bexsero), a vaccine developed against invasive meningococcal disease caused by capsular group B strains (MenB), was recently licensed for use by the European Medicines Agency. Assessment of 4CMenB strain coverage in specific epidemiologic settings is of primary importance to predict vaccination impact on the burden of disease. The Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (MATS) was developed to predict 4CMenB strain coverage, using serum bactericidal antibody assay with human complement (hSBA) data from a diverse panel of strains not representative of any specific epidemiology.

Objective

To experimentally validate the accuracy of MATS-based predictions against strains representative of a specific epidemiologic setting.

Methods and results

We used a stratified sampling method to identify a representative sample from all MenB disease isolates collected from England and Wales in 2007–2008, tested the strains in the hSBA assay with pooled sera from infant and adolescent vaccinees, and compared these results with MATS. MATS predictions and hSBA results were significantly associated (P = 0.022). MATS predicted coverage of 70% (95% CI, 55–85%) was largely confirmed by 88% killing in the hSBA (95% CI, 72–95%). MATS had 78% accuracy and 96% positive predictive value against hSBA.

Conclusion

MATS is a conservative predictor of strain coverage by the 4CMenB vaccine in infants and adolescents.     

降钙素基因相关肽家族的新成员-intermedin/adrenomedullin2的生物学效应

降钙素基因相关肽（Calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP）是1982年Amara在研究甲状腺髓样癌的降钙素基因表达时发现的,是人类直接运用分子生物学发现的第一个血管活性肽.1983年,Rosefeld等证实了CGRP在人和动物体内的存在.现己研究发现的降钙素基因相关肽超家族包括五个成员：降钙素（Calcitonin,CT）,胰淀粉酶（Amylin）,两种降钙素基因相关肽和肾上腺髓质素（Adrenomedullin,ADM）.     

Microbiota-derived acetate activates intestinal innate immunity via the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase complex

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Epidemiology and economic burden of meningococcal disease in Germany: A systematic review

IntroductionInvasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a notifiable disease in Germany and other European countries. Due to the high lethality of the disease and the risk of long-term consequences, IMD prevention is of high public health relevance despite the low number of cases in the population. This study aims to describe key epidemiological and economic parameters of IMD in Germany to support national decision-making processes for implementing enhanced prevention measures.MethodsBased on a systematic literature review in PubMed and EMBASE, all publications on the burden of disease and costs of IMD published up to May 2020 were evaluated. Additionally, notification data were used to report the annual case numbers and incidence of IMD in Germany until the end of 2019.ResultsThirty-six studies were included, of which 35 reported data on the epidemiological burden of disease and three reported data on economic aspects of IMD. The type of reported endpoints and results on the incidence of IMD differed widely by reporting year, population, and data source used. Most of the data are reported without specific information about a serogroup. Data on the economic burden of disease and healthcare resource use are scarce. Based on mandatory notification data, a decrease in the incidence of notified IMD cases has been observed since 2004. Currently, the nationwide annual incidence in Germany is at 0.3 cases per 100,000 persons and has gradually decreased. While the overall decline is mainly attributable to MenB, cases with MenY and MenW are the only ones that have increased on a low level in recent years.ConclusionWhile IMD is a rare disease, high direct and indirect costs illustrate the relevance of the disease for patients, caregivers, as well as for the health care system. Future research should concentrate on quantifying the long-term economic burden and indirect costs of meningococcal disease. Integrated IMD surveillance with isolate characterisation remains crucial to inform public health policies.     

中介素抑制大鼠心肌梗死后心室重构

目的利用外源性中介素(IMD)治疗急性心肌梗死(AMI)后大鼠,探讨其是否具有抑制心室重构的作用及可能的机制。方法结扎大鼠左冠状动脉前降支制备心肌梗死模型。观察模型大鼠存活情况,超声心动图检测左室舒张期末内径(LVEDD)和左室收缩期末内径(LVESD),Western blot检测胞核内核因子-κB(NF-κB)及胞浆内核因子-κB抑制蛋白α(IκBα)的蛋白表达。结果与假手术组比较,AMI组LVEDD、LVESD均显著升高,与AMI组比较,IMD治疗组LVEDD、LVESD均显著降低(P<0.01或0.05)。与假手术组比较,AMI组NF-κBp65蛋白明显增加,而IMD治疗组NF-κBp65蛋白表达较AMI组明显降低。与假手术组比较,AMI组IκBα蛋白表达明显降低,而IMD治疗组IκBα蛋白表达较AMI组明显增加。结论 IMD能够明显减少AMI后大鼠心肌NF-κB表达,减轻梗死后左室扩张程度。