Induction of Long-Term Protective Immune Responses by Influenza H5N1 Virus-Like Particles

Recurrent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus pose a threat of eventually causing a pandemic. Early vaccination of the population would be the single most effective measure for the control of an emerging influenza pandemic.Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in insect cell-culture substrates do not depend on the availability of fertile eggs for vaccine manufacturing. We produced VLPs containing influenza A/Viet Nam1203/04 (H5N1) hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix proteins, and investigated their preclinical immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Mice immunized intranasally with H5N1 VLPs developed high levels of H5N1 specific antibodies and were 100% protected against a high dose of homologous H5N1 virus infection at 30 weeks after immunization. Protection is likely to be correlated with humoral and cellular immunologic memory at systemic and mucosal sites as evidenced by rapid anamnestic responses to re-stimulation with viral antigen in vivo and in vitro.These results provide support for clinical evaluation of H5N1 VLP vaccination as a public health intervention to mitigate a possible pandemic of H5N1 influenza

Oxigenoterapia inalatória em pacientes pediátricos internados em hospital universitário Oxygen inhalation therapy in children admitted to an university hospital

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o uso da oxigenoterapia inalatória em crianças internadas em hospital universitário. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de crianças atendidas no Pronto-Socorro Pediátrico do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu e que receberam oxigenoterapia durante a internação, de maio a setembro de 2005. Indicou-se oxigenoterapia se saturação de oxigênio inferior a 90% e frequência respiratória elevada para idade. Crianças em uso crônico de oxigênio ou com necessidade de ventilação mecânica foram excluídas. Foram avaliados: sintomas respiratórios, diagnósticos clínicos, saturação de oxigênio, método e tempo de oxigenoterapia e responsável pela prescrição. RESULTADOS: Foram atendidas 8.709 crianças no pronto-socorro, sendo que 2.769 (32%) apresentaram doenças respiratórias e 97 necessitaram de internação na enfermaria. Destas, 62 (64%) receberam oxigenoterapia. Das 62 crianças, 37 eram do sexo masculino e a idade variou de 2 meses a 14 anos (mediana: 8 meses). A causa de hipóxia foi pneumonia em 52 crianças (84%), asma em cinco, bronquiolite em quatro e traqueomalácia em uma. As prescrições de oxigenoterapia foram feitas por médicos, com monitoração de saturação de oxigênio por oxímetro de pulso. O tempo mediano de administração de O2 foi 6 dias e o cateter nasal foi usado em 94% dos casos, sendo raro o uso de máscaras ou capuz de oxigênio. CONCLUSÕES: A oxigenoterapia inalatória foi mais frequente em crianças com menor idade e em pacientes com pneumonia, sendo sua indicação compatível com critérios internacionais. O uso do cateter nasal mostrou-se seguro, simples, efetivo e de baixo custo.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate inalatory oxygen therapy in children admitted to a university hospital. METHODS: Prospective study of children assisted at the Emergency Room of the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School and submitted to oxygen therapy during hospitalization, from May to September 2005. Criteria for oxygen therapy were oxygen saturation less than 90% and high respiratory rate for age. Children in chronic use of oxygen or in need of mechanical ventilation were excluded. The following data were analysed: clinical respiratory symptoms, clinical diagnosis, oxygen saturation, methods, duration and who made the prescription of oxygen therapy. RESULTS: Out of 8,709 children admitted to the emergency room, 2,769 (32%) had respiratory tract diseases and 97 needed hospitalization. From these, 62 (64%) were submitted to oxygen therapy (37 males; 2 months to 14 years old). Pneumonia was the cause of hypoxemia in 52 children (84%), asthma in five, bronchiolitis in four and tracheomalacia in one. Oxygen therapy was prescribed by physicians, with daily observation and monitoring of oxygen saturation by pulse oxymetry. The median time of oxigen use was 6 days and nasal catheters were used in 94% of children, Facial masks or hoods were rarely prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: Inalatory oxygen therapy was more frequently used in younger patients and in children with pneumonia. Its prescriptions followed international criteria. Nasal catheter seemed to be safe, simple, effective and an inexpensive method of oxygen delivery

Yield and quality of tomato produced on substrates and with application of humic acids Produtividade e qualidade de tomate produzido em substratos e com aplicação de ácidos húmicos

The aim of this work was to evaluate the yield and quality of tomato fruits, hybrid "Vênus", produced on substrates and with application of nutrient solution and humic acids (AH). Four doses of AH were evaluated (0, 20, 40 and 80 L ha-1) and 4 substrates: S1 (coconut fiber (CF)), S2 (FC + carbonized coffee husk (CC) in the ratio 1:3), S3 (CF + CC in the ratio 2:3) and S4 (CC), were evaluated following the randomized blocks design in factorial 4x4 scheme with four replications. The 35-day old seedlings were transplanted into plastic bags of 7 L. The humic acids were applied four times in eight-day intervals, and the first application was carried out eight days after transplanting. There was no significant effect of AH on the yield and quality of fruit, except in relation to soluble solids (SS)/titratable acidity (AT). Doses of up to 36 L ha-1, increase the AT, above that amount favored increase of SS. The carbonized coffee husk in treatments S2, S3 and S4, did not alter the production of small fruits, medium, non-commercial, moisture, pH, SS, AT and SS/AT, however, significantly reduced the total production, commercial and large size fruit. The production of fruits in S1 was significantly higher compared to the other treatments, with an average of 142.6 t ha-1, showing average increase in yield of 24.4%, 29.3% and 36.1% compared to plant of treatments S2, S3 and S4, respectively.<br>Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a produtividade e qualidade de frutos de tomateiro, híbrido Vênus, produzidos em substratos, com aplicação de solução nutritiva e de ácidos húmicos (AH). Foram avaliadas 4 doses de AH (0, 20, 40 e 80 L ha-1) e 4 substratos: S1 (fibra de coco (FC)), S2 (FC + casca de café carbonizada (CC) na proporção 1:3), S3 (FC + CC na proporção 2:3) e S4 (CC). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4x4. As mudas foram transplantadas com 35 dias para sacolas plásticas com capacidade de 7 L. Os AH foram aplicados quatro vezes em um intervalo de oito dias, sendo a primeira aplicação oito dias após o transplantio. Não houve efeito significativo dos AH sobre a produtividade e a qualidade de frutos, exceto na relação sólidos solúveis (SS)/acidez titulável (AT). Doses de até 36 L ha-1 aumentaram AT, porém, acima desse valor, favoreceram o incremento de SS. A casca de café carbonizada, nos tratamentos S2, S3 e S4, não alterou a produção de frutos pequenos, médios, não-comerciais, umidade, pH, SS, AT e SS/AT, porém, diminuiu significativamente a produção total, comercial e de frutos grandes. A produção de frutos comerciais em S1 foi significativamente superior à das plantas dos demais tratamentos, com média de 142,6 t ha-1, apresentando aumento médio de produtividade de 24,4%, 29,3% e 36,1%, em relação às plantas dos tratamentos S2, S3 e S4, respectivamente

Sealing ability of grar MTA AngelusTM, CPM TM and MBPc used as apical plugs

This study evaluated the sealing ability of apical plugs fabricated with gray MTA AngelusTM sealer, CPM TM sealer and MBPc sealer. The root canals of 98 extracted single-rooted human teeth were instrumented with #5 to #1 Gates Glidden drills according to the crown-down technique until the #1 drill could pass through the apical foramen. The specimens were then prepared with K-files, starting with an ISO 50 until an ISO 90 could be visualized 1 mm beyond the apex. After root canal preparation, the external surface of each root was rendered impermeable and roots were assigned to 3 experimental groups (n = 30), which received a 5-mm thick apical plug of gray MTA AngelusTM, CPM TM and MBPc, and two control groups (n=4). The remaining portion of the canal in the experimental groups was filled by the lateral condensation technique. The teeth of each group, properly identified, were fixed on utility wax by their crowns and were placed in plastic flasks, leaving the apex free and facing upward. The flasks were filled with 0.2% Rhodamine B solution, pH 7.0, so as to completely cover the root apex of all teeth. The sealing ability was analyzed by measuring 0.2% Rhodamine B leakage after all groups had been maintained in this solution for 48 hours. Data were analyzed statistically by Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn test with a=5%. The results showed that, among the tested materials used for fabrication of apical plugs, MBPc sealer had the least amount of leakage with statistically significant difference (p<0.05)