Is rheumatoid arthritis associated with reduced immunogenicity of the influenza vaccination? A systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><b>Objective:</b> To determine whether immunogenicity and safety of the influenza vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are significantly different from those in a healthy population.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched on 31 August 2016. Studies were included when they met the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, methodological quality and outcomes. The primary outcome was seroprotection (SP) rate after immunization.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Thirteen studies were included. The SP rates did not significantly differ between the RA patients and healthy controls for the H3N2 (RR = 0.96, 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.13, <i>p</i> = .64) and B strain (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.84 to 1. 08, <i>p</i> = .44). Nevertheless, RA was associated with a significant decrease in SP rate for the H1N1 strain (RR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.86, <i>p</i> < .001). RA patients receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy, TNF blockers, rituximab and other biologics responded to the H1N1 strain significantly less than healthy controls in SP rate, whereas those receiving steroids did not. Non-adjuvanted vaccination had a significantly lower SP rate than in healthy controls, whereas adjuvanted vaccination did not. RA was associated with an increase in adverse events (RR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.08, <i>p</i> = .04).</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Immunogenicity was significantly different between RA patients and healthy controls for the H1N1 strain, but not for the H3N2 or B strains. Adverse event rates were higher in RA patients. Adjuvant and special kinds of immunosuppressive biologics may play an important role in immunogenicity of inactivated influenza vaccines for RA patients.</p

Alkyl Ketene Dimer Emulsions Stabilized by Layered Double Hydroxide Particles Modified with Glutamic Acid

Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) is commonly applied as oil-in-water emulsions in the papermaking industry. Herein a particle stabilized AKD emulsion was developed to avoid the adverse effect of surfactant, further improving the sizing performance and reducing the hydrolysis of AKD emulsions, where layered double hydroxide (LDH) particles were employed as a stabilizer of the AKD emulsions after being modified with glutamic acid (Glu). The success of the modification of LDH with Glu was evidenced by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Furthermore, the impact of the modification on the wettability of LDH was analyzed. It was found that the hydrophilic LDH particles became partially hydrophobic after being modified with Glu (at 1.5 mmol/g) and, thus, promoted the formation of emulsions with fine and uniform droplets that resisted creaming/coalescence formation. The adsorption of the Glu-modified LDH particles on the AKD droplet surface improved the emulsion stability, which was verified by fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscopy. Meanwhile, by using Glu-modified LDH nanoparticles, the storage stability of AKD emulsion and its sizing performance on paper were also improved

ESR spectra obtained at ambient temperature from the irradiation of LBDE solutions.

<p>Note: (1) The initial concentrations were 20 μg L^-1 for LBDEs, 0.02 mol L^-1 for TEMP, and 10 mM for sodium azide; (2) Irradiation time was 12 min; (3) Spectrum a and b for BDE-47; spectrum c and d for BDE-28.</p

The estimated half-lives and rate constants for LBDEs under 300 W xenon lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm) in water.

<p>The estimated half-lives and rate constants for LBDEs under 300 W xenon lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm) in water.</p

Effects of NaN₃ (10 mM) and isopropyl alcohol (100 mM) photolytic kinetics of BDE-47 and BDE-28 in ultrapure water under 300 W mercury lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm).

<p>Effects of NaN₃ (10 mM) and isopropyl alcohol (100 mM) photolytic kinetics of BDE-47 and BDE-28 in ultrapure water under 300 W mercury lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm).</p

Effect of D₂O on the photolytic rate of BDE-47 and BDE-28 in aqueous solutions under 300 W mercury lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm).

<p>Effect of D₂O on the photolytic rate of BDE-47 and BDE-28 in aqueous solutions under 300 W mercury lamp irradiation (λ> 290 nm).</p

ESR spectra of ·OH spin-trapping with DMPO (0.05 mol L^-1) from the irradiation of BDE-47 (20 μg L^-1) solution in ultrapure water.

<p>Note: (a) in dark; (b) after 12 min of irradiation with addition of IPA (100 mM); (c) after 12 min of irradiation with DMPO.</p

Self-Nucleation and Self-Assembly of Highly Fluorescent Au₅ Nanoclusters for Bioimaging

Fluorescent Au nanoclusters (NCs) are new excellent nanomaterials for biomedical applications but plagued by the problems of limited emission efficiency, unclear emission mechanism, and poor biological application ability. Herein, a novel strategy was developed to facilely synthesize poly­(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-hosted Au₅ NCs (poly-Au₅) with a high fluorescence quantum yield of 25%. Most importantly, a two-stage growth process of poly-Au₅ was demonstrated through in situ time-course experiments. Stage I was a simultaneous self-nucleation and self-assembly with a rapid rate of fluorescence increase; stage II was a sole self-assembly after the end of reduction with a relatively slower rate of fluorescence increase but contributed 30% to the overall emission intensity of end products. In both stages, enhanced aurophilic interactions promoted the excited state relaxation dynamics; enhanced rigid structures reduced the level of nonradiative relaxition of excited states, and these two factors ensured high emission efficiency of poly-Au₅. To further evidence the inference above, we successfully used PAMAM to realize the self-assembly of presynthesized, separated, and red-emitting Au-GSH NCs through electrostatic interaction between negative charges of carboxylic groups in Au-GSH NCs and positive charges of amine groups in PAMAM. As expected, the emission efficiency of Au-GSH NCs was obviously enhanced by PAMAM-mediated self-assembly. Moreover, the as-synthesized poly-Au₅ assemblies exhibited excellent cell permeability and great biostability against various metal ions, high REDOX stress, and complex intracellular environments. By virtue of MnO₄^– as an intermediary agent, poly-Au₅ was successfully used for sensitive and stable intracellular fluorescent imaging of endogenous GSH. This study lights up the emission origin of dendrimer-hosted Au NCs with strong emission and implies their huge applications in biomedical sensing and imaging

Loss of BDE-47 or BDE-28 <i>versus</i> loss of furfuryl alcohol in the presence of rose bengal in the solar simulator.

<p>Note: No direct photolysis in dark control.</p

The heart rate of zebrafish under different DKA concentrations.

<p>The heart rate of zebrafish under different DKA concentrations.</p