Baseline polysaccharide-specific antibodies may not consistently inhibit booster antibody responses in infants to a serogroup C meningococcal protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine

Negative correlations between baseline antibody concentrations and increases in antibody concentrations (after booster doses of vaccines) have been reported previously. Such correlation coefficients are widely reported by statisticians to be subject to mathematical coupling. Negative correlations may be attributable partly or wholly to the combination of mathematical coupling and measurement error (or other short term fluctuations in measurements) and therefore not clinically interpretable. In this study we re-analysed the serum antibody responses from five clinical trials of serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenCV) given to infants for priming followed by boosting with MenCV or a meningococcal A/C polysaccharide vaccine (MenA/C) at 12 months of age. Using Pearson's correlation method to assess the effect of pre-booster MenC-IgG concentration on the relative increase in MenC-IgG concentration post-booster, a significant negative correlation was observed for all the groups, indicating that high pre-booster antibody was associated with a smaller rise in antibody post-booster. We tested two additional statistical methods that account for mathematical coupling. Using Blomqvist method of adjustment to assess the plausible extent of bias, correlation coefficients were still negative providing error variance was low. The other method, a multilevel modelling specification of Oldham's method appeared not to be appropriate. In contrast, using Pearson's correlation method a consistent negative correlation between carrier protein-specific baseline antibody concentration and the increase in MenC-specific antibody concentration was only observed following booster immunisation with the protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine but not following the MenA/C plain polysaccharide vaccine. These findings suggest that analysis of the inhibitory effect of baseline antibody on the response to booster immunisation is challenging and should account for the possibility of mathematical coupling and measurement error. That an inhibitory effect of baseline antibody cannot be assumed a priori is supported by observations in animal models, which show that baseline antibody can both suppress or enhance the antibody response to a specific antigen.     

健康素养概念结构和主题趋势的多视角分析

目的利用多视角分析方法揭示健康素养的概念结构和主题趋势。方法基于WoS的作者共被引、关键词共现和PubMed的作者合作,利用CiteSpace软件,从被引文献和引证文献2个角度分别对共被引聚类进行标识,确定健康素养领域研究的概念结构和主题趋势(1995-2010)。结果精神健康素养和功能性健康素养是健康素养的2个独立的研究领域。同时发现公共卫生视角的健康素养和健康素养测量工具研究是近年来2个最活跃的研究领域。结论应用不同来源的信息,对共引聚类分析后可能会得到不同的结论。     

Control of gastric acid secretion in health and disease

Recent milestones in the understanding of gastric acid secretion and treatment of acid-peptic disorders include the (1) discovery of histamine H(2)-receptors and development of histamine H(2)-receptor antagonists, (2) identification of H(+)K(+)-ATPase as the parietal cell proton pump and development of proton pump inhibitors, and (3) identification of Helicobacter pylori as the major cause of duodenal ulcer and development of effective eradication regimens. This review emphasizes the importance and relevance of gastric acid secretion and its regulation in health and disease. We review the physiology and pathophysiology of acid secretion as well as evidence regarding its inhibition in the management of acid-related clinical conditions.     

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used by traditional health practitioners in Thanchi,Bandarban Hill Tracts,Bangladesh

Ethnopharmacological relevance

There is very limited information regarding plants used by traditional healers in Bandarban Hill Tracts (BHT), Bangladesh for treating general as well as complex ailments. Current study provides significant ethnopharmacological information, both qualitative and quantitative on medical plants in BHT. Aim of the study This study aimed to collect, analyze and evaluate the rich ethnopharmacologic knowledge on medicinal plants in Thanchi, BHT and attempted to identify the important species used in traditional medicine. Further analysis was done by comparison of the traditional medicinal use of the plants with the available scientific literature data.

Materials and methods

The field survey was carried out in a period of several years in Thanchi upazilla of Bandarban districts, Bangladesh. A total of 53 Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) were interviewed through open-ended and semi structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. This ethnomedicinal knowledge was compared against the available scientific literature for reports of related uses and studies of phytochemical compounds responsible for respective ailments.

Results

A total of 84 species of plants, mostly herbs, belonging to 42 families were identified for the treatment of 70 types of ailments. These ailments were categorized into 16 categories. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts and juice is the mode of preparation of major portions of the plant species. The most common mode of administration was oral ingestion and topical application. Informant consensus factor (F_ic) values of the present study reflected the high agreement in the use of plants in the treatment of digestive system and respiratory system disorders among the informants. Diseases of the digestive system had highest use-reports and 3 species of plants, namely Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. (dysentery), Justicia gendarussa L. (asthma) and Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (coughing) had the highest fidelity level (FL) of 100%. Clerodendrum viscosum Vent., Achyranthes aspera L and Justicia gendarussa L. showed the highest relative importance (RI) value of 1.86. According to use value (UV) the most important species were Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (2.24) and Achyranthes aspera L. (2.15).

Conclusion

Priority should be given for further phytochemical investigation to plants that scored highest FL, F_ic, UV or RI values, as such values could be considered as good indicator of prospective plants for discovering new drugs. Since knowledge regarding traditional medicine being vulnerable day by day so traditional medicine in school curricula should be incorporated so that younger people could appreciate its usefulness. Also counseling of THPs and gardening of medicinal plants should be taken into consideration immediately in order to smooth continuance and extension of traditional medical knowledge and practice for ensuring safe and effective therapy.     

我院1998年～2001年抗抑郁药物的应用分析

目的 :了解我院抗抑郁药的应用状况及发展趋势。方法 :采用金额排序和频度分析方法对我院1998年～2001年抗抑郁药的应用情况进行统计分析。结果 :抗抑郁药的年用药金额及用药频度 (DDDs)逐年提高 ,2001年各种抗抑郁药年用药金额及DDDs分别是1998年的3 69倍和2 14倍。三环类抗抑郁药所占金额比例虽然不高 ,但其DDDs连续4年列前5位的药有氯米帕明和多塞平。新型抗抑郁药因其副作用相对少而轻 ,治疗地位不断上升 ,所占金额比例较高。结论 :三环类抗抑郁药仍是治疗抑郁症的首选 ;新型抗抑郁药应用前景广阔 ;尚需加速开发治疗抑郁症的中药。     

Immunogenicity and safety of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at two different potency levels administered to healthy children aged 12–15 months: A phase III,randomized, non-inferiority trial

BackgroundThe potency of live viral vaccines decreases over time. We compared the immunogenicity and safety of GSK measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR-RIT) formulations at two different potencies with that of the commercially-available MMR II formulation.MethodsIn this phase III observer-blind clinical study (NCT01681992), 4516 healthy children aged 12–15 months were randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to receive one dose of MMR-RIT at the minimum potency used for this study (MMR-RIT-Min) or MMR-RIT at the second lowest potency used for this study (MMR-RIT-Med), or control MMR II vaccine. A second dose (MMR-RIT or MMR II) was administered 42 days after the first. The study had 10 co-primary objectives to evaluate MMR-RIT versus MMR II immunogenicity via a hierarchical procedure. Anti-measles and anti-rubella antibodies were measured by ELISA and anti-mumps antibodies by ELISA and unenhanced plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT).ResultsEach formulation induced immune responses to all vaccine antigens after each MMR dose. While the primary objectives for MMR-RIT-Min were not met, MMR-RIT-Med induced immune responses as measured by ELISA against the three vaccine antigens that met pre-specified non-inferiority criteria. The immune response following MMR-RIT-Med against mumps measured by PRNT failed the non-inferiority criterion for seroresponse rate: the 97.5% confidence interval lower limit (−10.94%) was beyond the pre-defined limit of −10%. Immune responses were comparable among groups post-dose 2. No safety concerns were identified, and MMR-RIT and MMR II vaccines had similar reactogenicity and safety profiles.ConclusionsOne dose of MMR-RIT formulation with lower potency (MMR-RIT-Med) induced a non-inferior immune response compared to commercial MMR II vaccine, measured by ELISA in one-year-old children. Non-inferiority was not demonstrated in terms of immune response against mumps virus measured by unenhanced PRNT, although the difference was of uncertain clinical relevance. After the second dose, immune responses were comparable among the MMR-RIT and MMR II groups.     

甘草氯仿提取物红外指纹图谱双指标序列分析法

目的 :建立一种符合甘草自身特点的红外指纹图谱分析方法。方法 :利用 2个指标 :共有峰率 ,变异峰率 ,分别以各甘草样品的红外指纹图谱为标准 ,计算其他样品相对于该标准样品的共有峰率和变异峰率 ,并按照共有峰率的大小建立不同的序列。结果与结论 :利用共有峰率和变异峰率双指标序列分析法可以对 2个或多个不同品种、不同产地甘草样品进行方便可靠的鉴别。     

疡科清热解毒法应用心得

清热法为中医八法之一,疡科中应用十分广泛,临证常见局部红、肿、热痛者,全身伴热毒之候,舌红、苔黄、脉数者即可投之,但是西医所说的"炎症"绝非都是用中医清热解毒法能解决的,而应遵循中医辨证施治的原则,有是证用是药,结合患者体质的强弱、正气的盛衰,治疗中多法联用,才能取得良好的疗效。本科主任陈宝元教授通过多年临床多年实践对此法的应用颇有心得,现将本法的适应症,常用方剂,临床注意事项一一录之。     

Effects of IL-4 on cyclooxygenase-2 and platelet-derived growth factor in the lungs of COPD rats

Objective： To explore the role of interleukin 4（IL-4）, expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） and platelet-derived growth factor （PDGF） in the model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）, in the lungs of rats. Methods： Male Wistar rats were used to build up the model of COPD. Rats were randomly divided into the control group and model group, the IL-4 group and the dexamethasone group. The expressions of COX-2, PDGF-A and PDGF-B in the lung tissue were detected by western blotting and RT-PCR. Results： The expressions of COX-2, PDGF-A and PDGF-B in the model group were increased significantly. Those expressions in the IL-4 and dexamethasone group were notably decreased. Conclusion： IL-4 and dexamethasone could interfere in the establishment of COPD. The expressions of COX-2 and PDGF in the lung tissue of COPD were increased significantly and IL-4 and dexamethasone could decrease those expressions.