Utility of bedside artificial pancreas for postoperative glycemic control in cardiac surgery

Journal of Artificial Organs - Perioperative hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and high glycemic variability are independent risk factors for mortality in critically ill patients. After cardiac surgery,...     

CpG DNA, liposome and refined antigen oral cholera vaccine

An oral cholera vaccine made up of three Vibrio cholerae antigens, i.e. lipopolysaccharide (LPS), recombinant toxin co-regulated pili (rTcpA) and heat-treated cholera toxin (H-CT) has been developed in six different formulations. Eight-week-old Wistar rats were divided into nine groups and immunized as follows: the first group received the oral vaccine 1 consisting of the three antigens (LPS, rTcpA and H-CT) associated with a liposome (L) and bacterial CpG-DNA (ODN#1826). The rats of groups 2 and 3 received oral vaccines 2 and 3 consisting of the liposome-associated three antigens with and without non-bacterial CpG-DNA (ODN#1982), respectively. Rats of groups 4 received oral vaccine 4 consisting of the three antigens mixed with the ODN#1826, similar to vaccine 1, but without liposome. Rats of groups 5 and 6 received oral vaccines 5 and 6 consisting of the three antigens with and without ODN#1982, respectively, similar to vaccines 2 and 3, but without liposome. Rats of groups 7, 8 and 9 received oral placebos, namely liposomes (L), ODN#1826 (CpG), and vaccine diluent, i.e. 5% NaHCO3 solution, respectively. All vaccines were given in three doses at 14-day intervals. It was found that the combination of liposome and ODN#1826 in vaccine 1 evoked the highest immune response to V. cholerae antigen compared to other vaccine formulations and placebos, as measured by the appearance of antigen-specific antibody-producing cells in the intestinal lamina propria. The immunogenicity according to the magnitude of the immune response was: V1>V2=V3>V4>V5=V6>V7=V8=V9. The results of this study indicate that CpG-DNA and liposome are effective mucosal adjuvants for an oral cholera vaccine prepared from refined V. cholerae antigens and their combination seems to be synergistic. The potential role of liposome as a vaccine delivery vehicle has been confirmed.     

Effects of daily water drinking on orthostatic and postprandial hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy

OBJECTIVE : It has been demonstrated that the increased blood pressure (BP) caused by a single dose of water alleviates orthostatic hypotension (OH) and postprandial hypotension (PPH) in patients with autonomic failure (AF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the practical effect of daily water drinking on OH and PPH in the morning when patients with AF are usually most affected. METHODS : In five patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) characterized by intractable OH and PPH, we measured seated, standing and postprandial BP in the morning without and with ingestion of 350 ml tap water at 07.30 hours for seven successive days. The changes from the basal BP level at 07.30 hours (DeltaBP) were assessed as an index of the effect of water drinking. RESULTS : Water drinking elicited a rapid pressor response in all patients. The DeltaBP during sitting, standing and after a meal following water drinking (day 1 and day 7) was significantly higher than without water drinking (day 0). The effects of reducing OH and PPH on day 7 were equivalent to those on day 1. No adverse effects associated with daily water drinking were observed, except later diuresis, which occurred in one patient. CONCLUSIONS : Daily water drinking demonstrated constant pressor effects in the morning with no severe adverse effects in MSA patients. This finding suggests that water drinking should be tried as a practical measure to prevent or reduce OH and PPH.