Immunogenicity study of low-dose administration of hepatitis B virus vaccine in newborn infants: A cost reduction trial

Different doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine—prepared by Korea Green Cross Corporation, were given to healthy infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers at birth, 1 and 6 months of age. A dose of 2 μg was administered intradermally in Group A and, in the three other groups, the vaccine was given intramuscularly (i.m.). An adequate follow-up observation was possible for 9 months after birth in 22, 25, 23 and 21 infants in Groups A, B, C and D, respecvely.
Group C (5 μg, i.m.) produced seroconversion most rapidly, showing the highest rate (96%) at 9 months of age. The lowest seroconversion rate (5%) was found at the age of 1 month in Group A subjects, but the rate increased to 91% after a booster dose was given at 6 months of age.
While it can be concluded that a 5 μg i.m. dose of vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months of age is optimum for the immunization of infants in efficacy and economy, a 2 μg intradermal dose can also be considered as an immunogenic and economical regimen, though the immune response is slower and a special technique is required for immunization.     

Angiographic and Clinical Outcomes of Everolimus‐Eluting Stent in the Treatment of Extra Long Stenoses (AEETES)

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the angiographic and clinical results of stent full metal jacket in treating long lesions using everolimus‐eluting stents (EES).

Background

Data are lacking regarding the use of EES for this lesion subgroup.

Methods

From 2007 to 2011, 77 symptomatic patients who had severe coronary stenoses necessitating implantation of stents with total length longer than 60 mm were treated with overlapping EES.

Results

The mean age of patient was 61 ± 11 years with male predominance (66%). Diabetes mellitus was seen in 35 (45.5%) patients. Majority of patients had class III angina with normal heart function. On average, 3.1 stents were implanted per lesion; the mean stent size and length were 2.70 ± 0.28 mm and 82 ± 16 mm. Restudy angiography was performed on 71 patients (72 lesions) at 8.9 ± 2.5 months. Angiographic restenosis was seen in 9 (12.5%) lesions; the lesion length and late loss were 67 ± 15 mm and 0.4 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. The use of intravascular ultrasound has been found to be a predictor of less restenosis (P = 0.02; HR: 0.02; CI: 0.01–0.59). The in‐hospital and 1 year major adverse cardiac event rates were 7.8% and 13%. The annual cardiac death rates were 2.6%, 3.4%, and 5.3% in the first 3 years.

Conclusions

The use of EES full metal jacket for long lesions is only associated with good short‐term clinical and angiographic outcomes. Long‐term follow‐up has revealed a high cardiac death rate which may necessitate prolongation of dual antiplatelet therapy. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:22–28)