Hepatitis B immunity in adolescents and necessity for boost vaccination: 23 years after nationwide hepatitis B virus vaccination program in Taiwan

The first universal hepatitis B vaccination program for newborns in the world was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. Most studies on the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination focused on the seroprevalence of HBs Ag among children under 14 years old. Only few studies focused on the seropositivity of anti-HBs among adolescents aged 15–18 years old. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the nationwide hepatitis B vaccination program on the immunity to HBV infection and the necessity of boost among adolescents. In this study including eight annual seroprevalence surveys from 2000 to 2007, 2342 college entrants (1589 15-year-olds in group I and 753 18-year-olds in group II) and 1851 university freshmen (18-year-olds in group III) participated. Subjects identified anti-HBs, HBs Ag and anti-HBc negative were given boost three doses of HBV vaccine. The HBs Ag seroprevalence was 11.6%, 3.5% and 1.0% for participants who were born before 1984, 1984–1986 and after 1986. The anti-HBs-seropositive rates were significantly higher in group II (83.1%) than in group I (53.0%) and group III (53.5%). All 572 participants who were seronegative for anti-HBs, HBs Ag and anti-HBc became anti-HBs-seropositive after catch-up vaccination. It is concluded that the anti-HBs-seropositive rate decreased to 50% in 15 years after vaccination, and boost vaccination was 100% effective. The necessity and age for boost among anti-HBs negative adolescents and the timing of the first immunization should be further evaluated.     

Decision analysis model of incisional hernia after open abdominal surgery

Background The incidence rate of incisional hernias after open surgery has been reported to be higher than that of port site hernias after laparoscopic surgery. No studies have compared the costs for the health care system in treating those two types of hernia. Methods A systematic review was conducted to obtain the baseline data, and a decision analysis model was created to simulate the occurrence and recurrence of incisional and port site hernias. Results The overall risk of having incisional hernias was eight-times higher than that of having port site hernias (7.4% vs 0.9%). A cost savings of ￡93 per patient can be generated for the health care system in the UK. Similar results were obtained for Germany, Italy and France. Conclusions The additional treatment costs for incisional hernia should be taken into account when the costs of a surgery performed by open approach are compared with by laparoscopy.     

无线网络技术在医学仪器中的应用

简要介绍无线网络技术的原理、特点及其在医学仪器中的应用.     

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of 75 patients with specific polysaccharide antibody deficiency syndrome.

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies of large cohorts of patients with specific polysaccharide antibody deficiency (SPAD) syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with specific polysaccharide antibody deficiency syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 75 patients with total IgG levels of at least 500 mg/dL and fewer than 9 of 12 responses to vaccination with pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent. Exclusion criteria included an IgG level less than 500 mg/dL, established immunodeficiency syndrome, and secondary immunodeficiency. RESULTS: The most common clinical presentation was frequent infections (n = 69; 92%), including sinusitis (n = 53; 77%), pneumonia (n = 29; 42%), ear infections (n = 18; 26%), and bronchitis (n = 19; 28%). Other presentations were systemic infections (n = 5; 7%), autoimmune or rheumatic diseases (n = 6; 8%), and chronic diarrhea (n = 4; 5%). The median IgG2 level of patients with no response to pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent tended to be lower than that of patients with at least 1 response (150 vs 193 mg/dL, respectively; P = .06). There was no association between total IgG level (categorized as 500-600 or > or = 600 mg/dL) and frequency of infection (P = .43). Patients with fewer responses to pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent and a higher frequency of infections were more likely to receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy (P = .01 and .003, respectively). Treatment with IVIG significantly reduced the number of infections (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients with no response to pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent tended to have lower IgG2 levels; those with fewer responses were more likely to receive IVIG therapy.     

抗非典精神刍议

全同非典进行特死斗争过程中，医护人员表现出一种临危不惧、挺身而出、全力救治、不怕牺牲、恪尽职守、患者至上、竭诚服务、科学防治的“抗非典精神”值得宣传，学习和效法。     

Analysis of the Surface Ozone During Summer and Autumn at a Coastal Site in East China

The levels and temporal variations of surface ozone at a coastal site in East China during summer and autumn were analyzed and the influences of meteorological parameters on ozone were investigated. An inland city was chosen as a comparison site. The main results and conclusions of this study are: (1) ozone pollution, with a maximum 1 h concentration of 150.98 ppbv, was severe during summer and autumn at the coastal site; (2) the ozone level was obviously higher at the coastal site than that at the inland site in September; (3) besides temperature and solar radiation, sea-land breeze circulation is an important factor influencing the ozone level at the coastal site, and sea breeze often induce high ozone levels (the average ozone concentration for sea breeze was about 13 ppbv higher than that for land breeze).