Chimeric Sindbis/eastern equine encephalitis vaccine candidates are highly attenuated and immunogenic in mice

We developed chimeric Sindbis (SINV)/eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV) viruses and investigated their potential for use as live virus vaccines against EEEV. One vaccine candidate contained structural protein genes from a typical North American EEEV strain, while the other had structural proteins from a naturally attenuated Brazilian isolate. Both chimeric viruses replicated efficiently in mammalian and mosquito cell cultures and were highly attenuated in mice. Vaccinated mice did not develop detectable disease or viremia, but developed high titers of neutralizing antibodies. Upon challenge with EEEV, mice vaccinated with >10(4) PFU of the chimeric viruses were completely protected from disease. These findings support the potential use of these SIN/EEEV chimeras as safe and effective vaccines.     

Analysis of risk factors for perifocal oedema after endovascular embolization of unruptured intracranial arterial aneurysms

Background

Endovascular embolization is a treatment of choice for the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, but sometimes is complicated with perianeurysmal oedema. The aim of our study was to establish incidence and outcomes of perianeurysmal oedema after endovascular coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, and to reveal possible risk factors for development of this potentially serious complication.

Methods

In total 119 adult patients with endovascular embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (performed at Department for Interventional Neuroradiology, Clinical Center, Kragujevac, Serbia) were included in our study. The embolizations were made by electrolite-detachable platinum coils: pure platinum, hydrophilic and combination of platinum and hydrophilic coils. Primary outcome variable was perianeurysmal oedema visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 7, 30 and 90 days after the embolization.

Results

The perianurysmal oedema appeared in 47.6% of patients treated with hydrophilic coils, in 21.6% of patients treated with platinum coils, and in 53.8% of those treated with mixed type of the coils. The multivariate logistic regression showed that variables associated with occurrence of perianeurysmal oedema are volume of the aneurysm, hypertension, diabetes and smoking habit. Hypertension is the most important independent predictor of the perianeurysmal oedema, followed by smoking and diabetes.

Conclusions

The results of our study suggest that older patients with larger unruptured intracranial aneurysms, who suffer from diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and have the smoking habit, are under much higher risk of having perianeurysmal oedema after endovascular coiling.     

Intracoronal stress transfer through enamel following RBC photopolymerisation: A synchrotron X-ray study

Objectives

To measure the spatial distribution of crystallographic strain in tooth enamel induced by the photo-polymerisation of a dimethacrylate resin based composite cavity restoration.

New protic ionic liquids for fungi and bacteria removal from paper heritage artefacts

In this work, new protic ionic liquids (PILs) with 1-ammonium-2-propanol cation and nine different anions: formate (For), acetate (Ac), lactate (Lac), trifluoroacetate (TFA), chloroacetate (ClA), trichloroacetate (TClA), 3-chloropropionate (3-ClP), 4-chlorobutyrate (4-ClB) and mandelate (Man) were prepared in order to study their antimicrobial activity and possible application for fungi and bacteria removal from deteriorated paper heritage. Ten filamentous fungal strains isolated from specific pigmented area of the damaged books: Trichoderma sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp.⁽¹⁻³⁾, Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus sp.^(1,2), Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium graminearum, eight Gram positive and Gram negative ATCC bacterial strains: B. subtilis⁽⁶⁶³³⁾, S. aureus⁽⁶⁵³⁸⁾, E. faecalis^(19433), K. rhizophila⁽⁹³⁴¹⁾, E. coli^(11229), S. enteritidis^(13076), P. mirabilis^(12453), P. aeruginosa^(15692) and two yeast Candida strains: Candida albicans^{(ATCC 10231)} and Candida albicans^(L) were used in this study. The results indicated that antimicrobial activity of selected ionic liquids is significantly affected by the size and specific functional groups in the anion structure. These facts opened the possibility for molecular design of new ionic liquids with strong inhibition properties against the specific bacterial, mould and yeast strains. The significant antimicrobial properties observed in this research suggest that studied PILs may have potential applications in the paper art and artefact cleaning and conservation replacing thus, conventional solvents and organic substances that are toxic for humans and environment.

New protic ionic liquids with 1-ammonium-2-propanol cation and nine different anions were prepared in order to study their antimicrobial activity and possible application for fungi and bacteria removal from deteriorated paper heritage.     

Initial and Long-Term Results of Endovascular Therapy for Chronic Total Occlusion of the Subclavian Artery

Purpose  

To study the initial and long-term results of angioplasty and primary stenting for the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the subclavian artery (SA).     

Idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia and juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis

We report on an association of idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia (ICL) and juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis (JLP) in a pediatric-aged patient. Because of a past medical history of recurrent lung infections and severe chickenpox in infancy, immunologic investigations were done at age 6 years. On several occasions, a CD4+lymphocyte count of <300 cells/mm3 was detected, supporting the diagnosis of ICL. During follow-up, both medical (interferon-alpha) and surgical treatments of JLP were only partially efficient. Our patient developed disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium and died at 10 years of age. Human papillomavirus is an important pathogen in pediatric and adult patients with ICL. In pediatric patients with JLP who develop other unusually severe viral or opportunistic infections, immunological investigations should be considered.