Intradermal powder immunization with protein-containing vaccines.

The central importance for global public health policy of delivering life-saving vaccines for all children makes the development of efficacious and safe needle-free alternatives to hypodermic needles, preferably in a thermostable form, a matter of pressing urgency. This paper comprehensively reviews past in vivo studies on intradermal powder immunization with vaccine formulations that do not require refrigeration. Particular emphasis is given to the immune response in relation to antigen adjuvantation. While needle-free intradermal delivery of vaccines induces a predominantly Th2-type immune response, adjuvants powerfully enhance and modulate the magnitude and nature of the elicited immune response at various effector sites

Molten salt synthesis of potassium-containing hydroxyapatite microparticles used as protein substrate

The bioactivity of a material may be favorably altered by exerting control over its protein sorption propensity. Spheroidal potassium-containing calcium phosphate bioceramic microparticles were manufactured by molten salt synthesis. The effects on particle characteristics and adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) of different hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4) 6(OH)2) to salt flux (K2SO4) ratios were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the emergence of minor phases in addition to the HA major phase with increased salt flux. Synthesized particles were found to increase in potassium content with increasing HA:K2SO4 ratio. Conversely, the amount of BSA adsorption onto microparticles, normalized for surface area, decreased with excess K2SO4. The results indicate that K 2SO4 content can impact the morphology, composition, and BSA adsorption propensity of the resultant bioceramic microparticles. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Molten salt synthesis of potassium-containing hydroxyapatite microparticles used as protein substrate

The bioactivity of a material may be favorably altered by exerting control over its protein sorption propensity. Spheroidal potassium-containing calcium phosphate bioceramic microparticles were manufactured by molten salt synthesis. The effects on particle characteristics and adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) of different hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4) 6(OH)2) to salt flux (K2SO4) ratios were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the emergence of minor phases in addition to the HA major phase with increased salt flux. Synthesized particles were found to increase in potassium content with increasing HA:K2SO4 ratio. Conversely, the amount of BSA adsorption onto microparticles, normalized for surface area, decreased with excess K2SO4. The results indicate that K 2SO4 content can impact the morphology, composition, and BSA adsorption propensity of the resultant bioceramic microparticles. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Needle-free dermal delivery of a diphtheria toxin CRM197 mutant on potassium-doped hydroxyapatite microparticles

Injections with a hypodermic needle and syringe (HNS) are the current standard of care globally, but the use of needles is not without limitation. While a plethora of needle-free injection devices exist, vaccine reformulation is costly and presents a barrier to their widespread clinical application. To provide a simple, needle-free, and broad-spectrum protein antigen delivery platform, we developed novel potassium-doped hydroxyapatite (K-Hap) microparticles with improved protein loading capabilities that can provide sustained local antigen presentation and release. K-Hap showed increased protein adsorption over regular hydroxyapatite (P < 0.001), good structural retention of the model antigen (CRM197) with 1% decrease in α-helix content and no change in β-sheet content upon adsorption, and sustained release in vitro. Needle-free intradermal powder inoculation with K-Hap-CRM197 induced significantly higher IgG1 geometric mean titers (GMTs) than IgG2a GMTs in a BALB/c mouse model (P < 0.001) and induced IgG titer levels that were not different from the current clinical standard (P > 0.05), namely, alum-adsorbed CRM197 by intramuscular (i.m.) delivery. The presented results suggest that K-Hap microparticles may be used as a novel needle-free delivery vehicle for some protein antigens

THE FACTORS OF OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE OF PERSONS WITH CHRONIC SPINAL CORD INJURY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Introduction In the past, most persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) retired, but today these persons enter the labor market largely. The opportunities offered by the environment, the available resources and the social contexts of living contribute to self-awareness and to the various career opportunities of an individual with chronic SCI. Objectives: The purpose of the research was to determine the effects on the choice of the occupation of the people with chronic SCI. Methods: The study relies on descriptive and causal-non-experimental methods of empirical pedagogical research. The sample consists of 127 persons with genetic and acquired SCI aged 19 to 70. Results: The research findings indicate that the desired occupation is inaccessible for almost half of the respondents due to the SCI. The occupational choice is affected by an important fact that persons with SCI would accomplish the education successfully. However, there are also factors related to the accessibility and adjustment of an educational institution and a workplace. Among the socialization factors that influence the choice of enrolment in an educational institution or in occupational choice is the acceptance of their disability, the respect for the necessary adjustments by teachers and peers, the support of their families and the possibility of an assistant to overcome their architectural barriers. Conclusion: If we want to increase the employment of people with SCI, the implementation of modern career guidance which emphasis one’s personality, life situation and its prospects for the future is necessary