An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 antibodies

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H7 attracts particular attention because of the risk of their potential pathogenicity in poultry. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test is widely used as subtype specific test for serological diagnostics despite the laborious nature of this method. However, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are being explored as an alternative test method. H5 and H7 specific monoclonal antibodies were experimentally raised and used in the development of inhibition ELISAs for detection of serological response specifically directed against AIV subtypes H5 and H7. The ELISAs were evaluated with polyclonal chicken anti-AIV antibodies against AIV subtypes: H1N2, H5N2, H5N7, H7N1, H7N7, H9N9, H10N4 and H16N3. RESULTS: Both the H5 and H7 ELISA proved to have a high sensitivity and specificity and the ELISAs detected H5 and H7 antibodies earlier during experimental infection than the HI test did. The reproducibility of the ELISA’s performed at different times was high with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.96-0.98. CONCLUSIONS: The ELISAs are a potential alternative to the HI test for screening of large amounts of avian sera, although only experimental sera were tested in this study

Health-related quality of life and physical functioning in patients participating in a rehabilitation programme, undergoing non-myeloablative allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Outcomes from a single arm longitudinal study

Objective: This study aims to report HRQOL, patient activation and physical functioning of haematological patients, participating in a 6-month multimodal interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme HAPPY, when undergoing non-myeloablative allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (NMA-HSCT). Methods: A prospective single-arm longitudinal design. Outcomes were collected as part of a feasibility study and included: HRQOL (EORTC QLQ-C30), patient activation measure (PAM), cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2peak), leg extensor power, lean body mass, measured pre-NMA-HSCT at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results: Thirty (mean age (SD) 64.1 (6.5)) out of 34 patients participated and 18 completed HAPPY. Outcome measures showed large individual differences of decline and improvement during follow-up. Patients rated HRQOL as good (median 70.8; range 33.3–100). Fatigue, dyspnoea, insomnia and appetite loss mainly remained or worsened. PAM stayed in the upper half of range (median 55.6; range 20.5–84.8) with a trend towards improvement at 12-month follow-up. Physical functioning scores were low [i.e. baseline VO2peak, men median 1.5 L/min range (1.0–2.9), women 1.0 L/min (0.8–1.4), leg extensor power men 2.1 Watt/kg range (1.3–3.8), women 1.7 Watt/kg (1.3–2.4), lean body mass men 19.5% (17.6–24.9) and women 17.8% (15.3–21.7)]. Conclusion: The sustained low level of physical functioning and symptoms 12-month after NMA-HSCT emphasise the need for pre-rehabilitation and long-lasting rehabilitation support in this frail patient group