Not Available

Not AvailableMucosal immune barriers confer protection against invading fish pathogens. Here, we conducted an experiment for 60 days to assess the mucosal and systemic immune response in Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), an Indian major carp. Fish were immunized with inactivated Edwardsiella tarda by four different routes, namely, oral,immersion, injection, and anal intubation. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the specific immune response (antibody) in serum and mucus (collected from skin, gill, and gut) of the fish on 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days post immunization. For specific immune response in the serum, significantly higher (p< 0.05) optical density (OD) values were obtained in the anal group (0.52 0.03) and in the oral group(0.48+/-0.03). In the skin mucus, significantly higher OD values were obtained in the oral group (0.48+/-0.04) and immersion group(0.32+/-0.03). In the gill mucus, significantly higher OD values were obtained in the oral group (0.82+/-0.08) and the immersion group(0.73+/-0.03). In the gut mucus, significantly higher OD values were obtained in the immersion group (0.080+/-0.007) compared to the rest of the treatments. Fish from all the groups were challenged with LD50 dose of E. tarda at the end of the experiment. We conclude that oral and immersion immunization routes offer better protection of C. mrigala compared to other antigen delivery routes.Not Availabl

Sustained 3-Year Benefits in Quality of Life After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in the Elderly: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Impact of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is important but under-reported in elderly patients. Objectives: To evaluate long-term health status in elderly patients who underwent PCI. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent PCI at a university-affiliated hospital from September 2009 to June 2012 were prospectively enrolled with HRQOL assessment at baseline (up to 2 weeks before PCI) and at 6-, 12-, and 36-month follow-up using the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire descriptive profile and visual analogue scale (VAS). Minimally important benefit (MIB) in HRQOL was defined as greater than half an SD improvement in the baseline VAS score. Results: Of 1957 patients, 49.9%, 29.1%, and 21.0% were aged younger than 65 years, 65 to 74 years, and 75 years and older, respectively. Mean VAS scores at baseline (50.1 ± 20.5 vs. 51.6 ± 20.5 vs. 52.6 ± 21.8; P = 0.09) and at 36 months (72.9 ± 14.0 vs. 72.8 ± 16.1 vs. 72.0 ± 14.8; P = 0.77) were similar between the three age groups, respectively. MIB at 36 months was observed in 65.7%, 61.9%, and 61.2% of patients in each age group, respectively. Proportion of patients aged 75 years and older reporting problems in pain/discomfort and self-care reduced from 91.2% and 24.8% at baseline to 41.4% and 10.1% at 36 months, respectively (both P &lt; 0.01). Independent predictors of MIB in HRQOL at 36 months in patients 75 years and older included poor baseline HRQOL, MIB at 6 months, and presentation with myocardial infarction (all P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Elderly patients experienced sustained long-term improvement in quality of life comparable with younger patients after PCI. Our findings suggest that age per se should not deter against revascularization because of sustained benefit in HRQOL