Gaza, armed conflict and child health

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs) have substantially reduced the burden of disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). However, protection is limited to vaccine serotypes, and when administered to children who are colonized with pneumococci at the time of vaccination, immune responses to the vaccine are blunted. Here, we investigate the potential of a killed whole cell pneumococcal vaccine (WCV) to reduce existing pneumococcal carriage and mucosal disease when given therapeutically to infant mice colonized with pneumococci. We show that a single dose of WCV reduced pneumococcal carriage density in an antibody-dependent manner. Therapeutic vaccination induced robust immune responses to pneumococcal surface antigens CbpA, PspA (family 1) and PiaA. In a co-infection model of otitis media, a single dose of WCV reduced pneumococcal middle ear infection. Lastly, in a two-dose model, therapeutic administration of WCV reduced nasal shedding of pneumococci. Taken together, our data demonstrate that WCV administered in colonized mice reduced pneumococcal density in the nasopharynx and the middle ear, and decreased shedding. WCVs would be beneficial in low and middle-income settings where pneumococcal carriage in children is high

MHC Class I related chain A (MICA), Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DRB1, HLA-DQB1 genotypes in Turkish patients with ulcerative colitis

Objectives: We aimed to determine Human LeukocyteAntigen (HLA)-DRB1, DQB1, and MHC Class I related chainA (MICA) genotypes in patients with ulcerative colitis.Methods: HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, MICA genotyping ofpatient (n:85) and controls (n:100) were performed by PCRSSOLuminex (One Lambda genotyping kit).Results: We found significantly higher DRB1*01 (p:0.022,OR:0.23, CI:0.06–0.8) and MICA*0002/20/55 (p:0.03,OR:0.53, CI:0.29–0.93) alleles in control group whereasDRB1*14 (p:0.04, OR:2.25, CI:1–5.08), DRB1*15 (p:<0.0001,OR:4.54, CI:2.09–9.88) and MICA*0004 (p:0.01, OR:2.84,CI:1.2–6.7) alleles were higher in patient group.Conclusions: The present study will inform the MICAand HLA genotypes about the protective (DRB1*01,MICA*0002/20/55) or susceptible (DRB1*14, DRB1*15,MICA*0004) alleles of the disease and helps the literatureon Turkish patients with ulcerative colitis

Management of Calvarial Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review

WOS: 000385338600006PubMed ID: 27337230AIM: Tumors of various organs that metastasize to bone do not neglect calvarium as a target. The aim of this study was to characterize the calvarial tumors. MATERIAL and METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 45 consecutive patients operated for calvarial masses from January 2002 till May 2012 at our hospital. Skull base tumors and patients <= 8 years were excluded. RESULTS: Three groups of lesions were found-calvarial metastases (15/45), primary tumors (5/45) and tumor-like lesions (25/45). Malignant lesions were equitable by gender distribution, higher age of onset (median age of primary =55; secondary = 60 years) and benign lesions by younger age (median = 35) and female bias (18/25). Calvarial metastases mostly presented with local swelling (10/15), local pain (6/15) and rarely neurologic deficit. There was associated dural sinus thrombosis (4/20 of malignant; 1/25 of benign lesions) and osteolysis (3/5 primary malignant, 13/15 secondary and 18/25 of benign lesions). Complete surgical excision was possible with minimal morbidity in all except one patient and nil mortality. CONCLUSION: Nearly half (20/45) of the calvarial lesions tend to be malignant with most of them presenting as silent painless masses. Surgical excision should be considered only after suitable investigation and appropriate neurosurgical set-up

Spondylodiscitis: evaluation of patients in a tertiary hospital

Introduction: Spondylodiscitis (SD) is an uncommon but important infection. The aim of this work was to study the risk factors, bacteriological features, clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of SD, and to shed light on the initial treatment

Derivation And Validation Of A New Still Activity Score (Sas)

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