Increasing seasonal influenza vaccination among high risk groups in China: Do community healthcare workers have a role to play?

BackgroundSeasonal influenza vaccine uptake in China is low. This study aims to assess the role of community healthcare workers (HCWs) in increasing vaccination among high risk groups in China.MethodsWe analyzed data from four knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies on seasonal influenza vaccination in China targeting guardians of young children, pregnant women, adults aged ≥60 years, and HCWs from 2012 to 2014.ResultsThirty-one percent of pregnant women and 78% adults aged ≥60 years reported willingness to follow HCWs’ recommendations for influenza vaccination. Guardians were more likely to vaccinate their children if they received HCWs’ recommendations (35% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). Community HCWs were more likely to recommend seasonal influenza vaccination than hospital HCWs (58% vs. 28%, p < 0.001).ConclusionStudy results suggest the value of incorporating community HCWs’ recommendation for seasonal influenza vaccination into existing primary public health programs to increase vaccination coverage among high risk groups in China.     

Mortality Risk Attributed to Ambient Temperature in Nanjing,China

<正>We examined the attributed fractions of all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality that were attributed to extreme and moderate cold and heat during 2010-2016 in Nanjing. Our results showed that 12.81%, 19.78%, and 25.33% of all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortalities, respectively, were attributed to temperature. The highest attributed fractions for three types of     

Rapid Detection of Yersinia pestis by Real-time Recombinase- aided Amplification

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic and pneumonic plague, is considered to be one of the most dangerous and deadly pathogenic bacteria in the world[1]. Y. pestis? is classified as a category A pathogen by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention because of its ease of aerosol-to-human transmission, high lethality, and potential for mass casualties as a biological warfare agent[2]. Therefore, both prevention and treatment require the development of a rapid, sensitive, and specific?method?to?detect?Y. pestis.     

One-Year Temporal Changes in Long COVID Prevalence and Characteristics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the 1-year temporal change in prevalence, variety, and potential risk factors of long COVID symptoms and to further predict the prognostic trends of long COVID.MethodsWe searched electronic databases for related studies published from January 2020 to February 2022 and conducted 1-group meta-analysis and locally weighted regression to explore the monthly temporal change in the prevalence of each long COVID symptom in 1-year follow-up period.ResultsA total of 137 studies were included in meta-analysis, including 134 093 participants. The temporal change of any long COVID symptom showed a steep decrease initially (from 92% at acute phase to 55% at 1-month follow-up), followed by stabilization at approximately 50% during 1-year follow-up. Six months or more after the acute phase, the odds ratio of population characteristic–related factors increased, such as female (from 1.62 to 1.82), whereas the odds ratio value of acute phase–related factors (severe or critical cases and hospitalization) decreased. As for specific symptoms, approximately two-thirds of the symptoms did not significantly reduce during the 1-year follow-up, and the neuropsychiatric symptoms showed a higher long-term prevalence (approximately 25%) and longer persistence than physical symptoms.ConclusionsThe temporal changes in the prevalence and characteristics speculate that long COVID may persist longer than expected. In particular, we should pay more attention to neuropsychiatric symptoms and other symptoms for which there is no significant downward trend in prevalence. The influence of acute phase–related factors for long COVID gradually decreases over time, whereas the influence of population characteristic–related factors gradually increases.     

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Vaccination With Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Among Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients and Persons With Other Immunocompromising Conditions Aged 19 to 49 Years

ObjectivesThis study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the use of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) (Shingrix), which protects against herpes zoster (HZ), among immunocompromised adults aged 19 to 49 years, as a contribution to deliberations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.MethodsHematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients experience a high incidence of HZ, and the efficacy of RZV in preventing HZ has been studied in clinical trials. The cost-effectiveness model calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios that compared vaccination with RZV with a no vaccination strategy among adults aged 19 to 49 years. Costs and outcomes were calculated until age 50 years using the healthcare sector perspective and summarized as cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The base case represents HCT recipients, with scenario analyses representing persons with other immunocompromising conditions, including hematologic malignancies, human immunodeficiency virus, and autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Uncertainty was investigated using univariate, multivariate, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.ResultsBase-case results indicated vaccination with RZV would avert approximately 35% of HZ episodes and complications, while saving approximately 11% of net costs. Compared with no vaccination, vaccination of HCT recipients with RZV generated cost-savings (ie, lower costs and improved health) in the base case and in 81% of simulations in the probabilistic analysis. In scenario analyses, vaccination cost US dollar ($) 9500/QALY among patients with hematologic malignancies, $79 000/QALY among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus, and $208 000/QALY among persons with selected autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.ConclusionsGenerally favorable economic estimates supported recommendations for vaccination of immunocompromised adults with RZV to prevent episodes of HZ and related complications.     

Comparative proteomics reveals the underlying toxicological mechanism of low sperm motility induced by iron ion radiation in mice

The toxicological mechanism of low sperm motility induced by iron ion radiation (IIR) was investigated in mice. Reproductive organ indices were measured following whole-body irradiation with a 2 Gy iron ion beam. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were used to analyze protein expression, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm altered gene expression. Reproductive organ indices and sperm motility were lowest 2 weeks after IIR. Sperm function changes via testis and cauda epididymis function were also determined at this time point. Sixteen differentially expressed proteins were identified in sperm 2 weeks after IIR. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that alpha-enolase (Eno1) may be important in the regulation of glycolysis in sperm, and Eno1 expression was correlated with sperm motility. Eno1 may be a potential marker for low sperm motility induced by IIR, and these results may provide a useful reference for changes in astronaut fertility during long space missions.     

Inhibition of placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by lead

Lead interferes with cortisol blood concentration, increases the risk of obstetrical complications, and could alter fetal development. The placenta controls maternal cortisol transfer to the fetus by the activity of the type 2 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2), which converts cortisol into inactive cortisone. This study determines the effect of lead on the expression and activity of the placental 11β-HSD2 in human trophoblast-like BeWo cells. Cells were treated with increasing concentration (0–1000 nM) of PbCl2 for 24 h. 11β-HSD2 protein expression was reduced by 45% at 1000 nM of PbCl₂ compared to untreated cells, while the activity was significantly reduced by PbCl₂ at 10, 100 and 1000 nM. This study shows the direct inhibitory action of lead on placental 11β-HSD2 activity and suggests that this heavy metal reduces the efficiency of the placental protection against the adverse effects of high cortisol level during fetal development.     

Vaccination with virus-like particles containing H5 antigens from three H5N1 clades protects chickens from H5N1 and H5N8 influenza viruses

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, especially H5N1 strains, represent a public health threat and cause widespread morbidity and mortality in domestic poultry. Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a promising novel vaccine approach to control avian influenza including HPAI strains. Influenza VLPs contain viral hemagglutinin (HA), which can be expressed in cell culture within highly immunogenic VLPs that morphologically and antigenically resemble influenza virions, except VLPs are non-infectious. Here we describe a recombinant VLP containing HA proteins derived from three distinct clades of H5N1 viruses as an experimental, broadly protective H5 avian influenza vaccine. A baculovirus vector was configured to co-express the H5 genes from recent H5N1 HPAI isolates A/chicken/Germany/2014 (clade 2.3.4.4), A/chicken/West Java/Subang/29/2007 (clade 2.1.3) and A/chicken/Egypt/121/2012 (clade 2.2.1). Co-expression of these genes in Sf9 cells along with influenza neuraminidase (NA) and retrovirus gag genes resulted in production of triple-clade H555 VLPs that exhibited hemagglutination activity and morphologically resembled influenza virions. Vaccination of chickens with these VLPs resulted in induction of serum antibody responses and efficient protection against experimental challenges with three different viruses including the recent U.S. H5N8 HPAI isolate. We conclude that these novel triple-clade VLPs represent a feasible strategy for simultaneously evoking protective antibodies against multiple variants of H5 influenza virus.     

The immunogenicity in healthy infants and efficiency to prevent mother to child transmission of Hepatitis B virus of a 10 μg recombinant yeast-derived Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep-KSC)

Background and AimsTo evaluate immunogenicity and efficacy of a 10 μg recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China) (Hep-KSC) in newborns.MethodsOverall 1197 infants born to mothers negative for HBV markers (NM group) and 534 born to HBsAg-positive mothers (PM Group) were enrolled. Infants in NM group were given 10 μg Hep-KSC, 10 μg Engerix-B or 5 μg Hep-KSC and those in PM group received 10 μg Hep-KSC or 10 μg Engerix-B at 0, 1 and 6 months, with an additional 200 IU HBIG at birth for the latter.ResultsFor NM Group, 10 μg Hep-KSC paralleled 10 μg Engerix-B but outperformed 5 μg Hep-KSC regarding seroprotective rate (95.06% vs 94.83% vs 89.67%, p = 0.0077) and anti-HBs geometric mean concentration (GMC) (798.87 mIU/ml vs 790.16 mIU/ml vs 242.04 mIU/ml, p < 0.0001) at 7 months. The proportion of infants with anti-HBs greater than 1000 mIU/ml was higher in 10 μg Hep-KSC than 5 μg Hep-KSC group (45.77% vs 11.93%, p < 0.0001) at 7 and 12 months. For PM Group, the HBsAg positivity rate in 10 μg Hep-KSC and 10 μg Engerix-B group was 1.60% and 4.27% at 7 months, respectively. In 10 μg Hep-KSC group, 93.61% and 91.29% achieved seroprotection at 7 and 12 months, respectively, and correspondingly 90.24% and 86.96% in 10 μg Engerix-B group. The anti-HBs GMC was comparable between 10 μg Hep-KSC and 10 μg Engerix-B group at 7 and 12 months (575.31 mIU/ml vs 559.64 mIU/ml; 265.79 mIU/ml vs 264.48 mIU/ml).Conclusions10 μg Hep-KSC might be appropriate for neonatal immunization with good immunogenicity and efficacy, especially for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.