Cross-protective efficacy of the O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine and the O 3039 monovalent vaccine against heterologous challenge with FMDV O/Jincheon/SKR/2014 in pig

After massive foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks originated from Jincheon County from Dec. 2014 to Apr. 2015, the effectiveness of the previous FMD vaccine containing only the O1 Manisa as the O antigen, O1 Manisa?+?A Malaysia 97?+?Asia 1 Sharmir trivalent vaccine, was questioned in South Korea, and a change in the O antigen in FMD vaccines was demanded to control the FMD caused by FMDV O/Jincheon/SKR/2014, the O Jincheon strain. Therefore, the efficacies of O1 Manisa?+?O 3039 bivalent vaccine and O 3039 monovalent vaccine were studied for cross-protection against heterologous challenge with the O Jincheon strain. In this study, the efficacy of the O1 Manisa?+?O 3039 bivalent vaccine was better than that of the O 3039 monovalent vaccine, even though the serological relationship (r₁ value) between O Jincheon and O 3039 was matched according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual. According to serological test results from vaccinated specific pathogen free pigs, virus neutralization test titers against Jincheon were good estimates for predicting protection against challenge. A field trial of the O1 Manisa?+?O 3039 bivalent vaccine was performed to estimate the possibility of field application in conventional pig farms, especially due to concerns about the effect of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in field application of the FMD vaccine. According to the result of the field trial, the O1 Manisa?+?O 3039 bivalent vaccine was considered to overcome MDA. The results of the efficacy and field trials indicated that the O1 Manisa?+?O3039 vaccine could be suitable to replace previous FMD vaccines to control the FMD field situation caused by O Jincheon FMDV.     

Clinical evaluation of incadronate in korean patients with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia: An open-label, multicenter study

Abstract

Background:

Incadronate has been found to lessen the increase in corrected serum calcium levels in malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH) in a Phase III study in Japan. The drug is currently used to treat MAH in Japan.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of incadronate in patients with MAH.

Methods:

This open-label study was conducted at 3 medical institutions in Korea. Korean patients with MAH (corrected serum calcium levels ≥11.0 mg/dL) were given a single 10-mg IV infusion of incadronate over 2 to 4 hours in 500 to 1000 mL of normal saline. Corrected calcium levels were determined and subjective symptoms and objective findings (ie, bone pain, spontaneous pain, pain from contusion, tenderness, other pain, loss of appetite, nausea and/or vomiting, thirst, constipation, fatigue, and disturbance of consciousness) were used to monitor the effectiveness of the drug for 6 days after the infusion. Symptoms were evaluated using a 4-point scale (0 = none to 3 = severe). Adverse events (AEs) were identified by patients'' reports, and adverse drug events (ADEs) were assessed by the investigators throughout the study.

Results:

Twenty-four Korean patients (18 [75%]male, 6 [25%]female; mean age, 56.5 years) were included in the study; data from 22 and 24 patients were used to assess effectiveness and tolerability, respectively. Corrected serum calcium level was significantly decreased on day 6 after treatment compared with pretreatment on day 0 (baseline) (9.51 [0.89] mg/dL vs 11.83 [0.89] mg/dL; P < 0.001). The antihypercalcemic effect of incadronate became apparent as an inhibition of bone absorption a few days after infusion. Corrected serum calcium level was significantly decreased on days 2 to 6 (P < 0.001) after treatment compared with pretreatment at baseline. Evaluation of symptoms showed significant improvement in the incadronate-treated group (mean total score [range] at baseline, 8 [1–23] and day 6, 5.5 [1–17]; P = 0.001). Eight (33.3%) of the patients were found to have ADEs. Some of the 8 patients experienced >1 ADE (mild and transient fever [13 events], chills [3], headache [1], and myalgia [1]). AEs were observed in 19 (79.2%) of 24 patients. The most frequently reported AE was fever (14 events).

Conclusion:

In this small, open-label study, Korean subjects with MAH treated with incadronate experienced significant improvement in symptoms and calcium levels from baseline.Key Words: incadronate, bisphosphonate, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, Korea     

Trends of CT Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department in a Tertiary Academic Hospital of Korea during 2001-2010

Objective

We wanted to assess the trends of computed tomography (CT) examinations in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

Materials and Methods

We searched the medical database to identify the pediatric patients who had visited the ED, and the number of CTs conducted from January 2001 to December 2010. We analyzed the types of CTs, according to the anatomic region, and the patients who underwent CT examinations for multiple regions. Data were stratified, according to the patient age (< 13 years and 13 ≤ ages < 18 years).

Results

The number of CTs performed per 1000 patients increased by 92% during the 10-year period (per 1000 patients, increased from 50.1 CTs in 2001 to 156.5 CTs in 2006, and then decreased to 96.0 CTs in 2010). Although head CTs were performed most often (74.6% of all CTs), facial bone CTs showed the largest rate of increase (3188%) per 1000 patients, followed by cervical CTs (642%), abdominal CTs (474%), miscellaneous CTs (236%), chest CTs (89%) and head CTs (39%). The number of patients who had CT examinations for multiple regions in the same day showed a similar pattern of increase, to that of overall CT examinations. Increase of CT utilization was more pronounced in adolescents than in pediatric patients younger than 13 years (189% vs. 59%).

Conclusion

The utilization of CTs increases from 2001 to 2006, and has declined since 2006. The increase of CTs is more pronounced in adolescents, and facial bone CTs prevail in increased number of examination followed by cervical CTs, abdominal CTs, miscellaneous CTs, chest CTs, and head CTs.     

Korean Red Ginseng Water Extract Restores Impaired Endothelial Function by Inhibiting Arginase Activity in Aged Mice

Cardiovascular disease is the prime cause of morbidity and mortality and the population ages that may contribute to increase in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Arginase upregulation is associated with impaired endothelial function in aged vascular system and thus may contribute to cardiovascular disease. According to recent research, Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGE) may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving vascular system health. The purpose of this study was to examine mechanisms contributing to age-related vascular endothelial dysfunction and to determine whether KRGE improves these functions in aged mice. Young (10±3 weeks) and aged (55±5 weeks) male mice (C57BL/6J) were orally administered 0, 10, or 20 mg/mouse/day of KRGE for 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and the aortas were removed. Endothelial arginase activity, nitric oxide (NO) generation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) coupling, vascular tension, and plasma peroxynitrite production were measured. KRGE attenuated arginase activity, restored nitric oxide (NO) generation, reduced ROS production, and enhanced eNOS coupling in aged mice. KRGE also improved vascular tension in aged vessels, as indicated by increased acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and improved phenylephrine-stimulated vasoconstriction. Furthermore, KRGE prevented plasma peroxynitrite formation in aged mice, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation. These results suggest KRGE exerts vasoprotective effects by inhibiting arginase activity and augmenting NO signaling and may be a useful treatment for age-dependent vascular diseases.