Sleep and vaccine administration time as factors influencing vaccine immunogenicity

The immunogenicity of vaccines is affected by host, external, environmental, and vaccine factors; in addition, sleep or circadian rhythms may also have effects. With the use of vaccines to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, research is underway to clarify what time of the day is optimal for COVID-19 vaccination and how disturbances of circadian rhythms will affect the immunogenicity of the vaccine in shift workers. Studies on the relationship between sleep time and the immunogenicity of vaccines for influenza and hepatitis have demonstrated that less sleep time and sleep deprivation tended to adversely affect immunogenicity. In some studies, there were even sex differences in these effects. When comparing shift workers with disturbances in their circadian rhythms and those who only worked during the day, one study found less antibody formation in shift workers; however, further studies on the relationship between shift work and the immunogenicity of vaccines are needed. Studies on the relationship between vaccine administration time and immunogenicity have shown different results according to age and sex. Therefore, future studies on vaccine administration time and immunogenicity may require an individualized approach for each vaccine and each population to be vaccinated. There is accumulating evidence on the effects of sleep and vaccine administration time on the immunogenicity of vaccines. However, further studies are needed to determine whether the association between immunogenicity and circadian rhythms and vaccine administration time can be used as a basis to increase the immunogenicity for individual vaccines

Prevalence and Genetic Structures of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 6D, South Korea

To determine prevalence and genetic structures of new serotype 6D strains of pneumococci, we examined isolates from diverse clinical specimens in South Korea during 1991–2008. Fourteen serotype 6D strains accounted for 10.4% of serogroup 6 pneumococci from blood, sputum, nasopharynx, and throat samples. Serotype 6D strains consisted of 3 sequence types

Detection of genetic mutations associated with macrolide resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Purpose : The aim of this study was to identify mutations associated with macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and to establish a cultural method to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were collected from 62 children diagnosed with MP pneumonia by a serologic method or polymerase chain reaction. The 23S rRNA and L4 ribosomal protein genes of MP were amplified and sequenced. To identify mutations in these 2 genes, their nucleotide sequences were compared to those of the reference strain M129. MP cultivation was carried out for 32 (28 frozen and 5 refrigerated) NPAs and M129 strain using Chanock’s glucose broth and agar plate in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37?#608;and examined at 2-3 day intervals for 6 weeks. Results : Among the 62 specimens, 17 had M144V mutations in ribosomal protein L4. The A2064G mutation was observed in 1 specimen&#59; its 23S rRNA gene was successfully sequenced. Culture for MP was successful from the M129 strain and 2 of the 5 NPAs that were refrigerated for no longer than 3 days. However, MP did not grow from the 28 NPAs that were kept frozen at -80?#608;since 2003. Conclusion : We found the M144V mutation of L4 protein to be common and that of domain V of 23S rRNA gene was relatively rare among MP. Studies on the prevalence of macrolide-resistant MP and the relationship between the mutations of 23S rRNA gene and ribosomal protein L4 will aid in understanding the mechanism of macrolide resistance in MP

Investigating the Relationship between Serum Interleukin-17 Levels and Systemic Immune-Mediated Disease in Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome

Purpose: To investigate the association between dry eye syndrome (DE) and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17 in patients with systemic immune-mediated diseases. Methods: IL-17 and IL-23 levels were measured in the sera of patients whose tear production was <5 mm on the Schirmer test. Subjects included patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjogren’s syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and no systemic disease. Corneal/conjunctival fluorescein staining was scored and the correlation between the score and the IL-17 level was evaluated. Results: A strong correlation existed between IL-17 level and the type of systemic disease. IL-17 was significantly elevated in patients with chronic GVHD compared to those with RA and SS. IL-17 was not detectable in patients with SLE or in those without systemic disease. IL-23 was not detected in any of the subjects. IL-17 was significantly increased in patients with high fluorescein staining scores. Conclusions: Our data suggest that IL-17 is involved in the pathogenesis of DE in patients with systemic immune-mediated diseases. Key Words: Chronic graft-versus-host disease, Dry eye syndromes, Interleukin-17, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrom

Prevention of UV-Induced Skin Damages by 11,14,17-Eicosatrienoic Acid in Hairless Mice In Vivo

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are known to play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that some omega-3 (ω-3) PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and dodecahexaenoic acid (DHA), have protective effects on acute and chronic UV-induced changes. However, the effects of other ω-3 PUFAs including 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (20:3) (ETA) on UV-induced skin damages are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the cutaneous photoprotective effects of ETA in hairless mice in vivo. Female HR-1 hairless mice were topically treated with vehicle (ethanol:polyethylene glycol=30:70) only, 0.1% ETA, or 1% ETA once a day for 3 successive days after one time UV irradiation (200 mJ/cm2) on dorsal skins. Skin biopsy was carried out on the fourth day (72 hr after UV irradiation). We found that topical treatment with ETA attenuated UV-induced epidermal and dermal thickness and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and impairment of skin barrier function. In addition, ETA suppressed the expression of IL-1β, COX-2, and MMP-13 induced by UV irradiation. Our results show that the topical application of ETA protects against UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice and suggest that ETA can be a potential agent for preventing and/or treating UV-induced inflammation and photoaging

Hyperghrelinemia does not accelerate gastric emptying in Prader-Willi syndrome patients

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most common form of syndromic obesity associated with hyperphagia. Because ghrelin stimulates gastric motility in rodents, and PWS patients have 3- to 4-fold higher fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations than normal subjects, we hypothesized that hyperphagia associated with PWS may be partly explained by rapid gastric emptying due to the increased gastric motility caused by ghrelin. We determined gastric emptying times (GETs) and measured ghrelin levels in 11 PWS children and 11 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls using a standard meal containing [(99m)Tc]diaminetriaminepentacetate. Median plasma ghrelin levels before (precibum) and after the GET study were higher in PWS patients than in controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). Median percent gastric retentions at 90 min after the standard meal were 57.1% (range, 34.0-83.2%) in PWS patients and 40.2% (range, 27.2-60.2%) in controls (P = 0.03). In particular, precibum ghrelin concentrations were not significantly correlated with the rate of gastric emptying in PWS patients (P = 0.153; r = 0.461) or controls (P = 0.911; r = 0.048). Our results show that gastric emptying in PWS is reduced despite higher ghrelin levels, and that the voracious appetite associated with PWS is related to another mechanism

Clinical characteristics of children with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) admitted in a single institution

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with the novel influenza A (H1N1) in the winter of 2009 at a single medical institution.MethodsOut of 545 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) in children, using the real time RT-PCR method at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from September to December of 2009, 149 patients and their medical records were reviewed in terms of symptoms, laboratory findings, complications and transmission within a family.ResultsMedian age of subjects was 7 years (range: 2 months-18 years). New cases increased rapidly from September to reach a peak in November, then declined rapidly. Most frequently observed symptoms were fever (96.7%), cough (73.2%), rhinorrhea (36.9%) and sore throat (31.5%). Average body temperatures on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hospital day were 38.75±0.65℃, 38.08±0.87℃ and 37.51±0.76℃, respectively. Complete blood counts and biochemical tests performed on the first admission day showed within the reference values in most cases. Of the 82 patients with simple chest radiography, 18 (22%) had pneumonic lesions; multi-focal bronchopneumonia in eleven, single or multi-segmental lobar pneumonia in five, and diffuse interstitial pneumonia in two patients. All of the 149 patients improved from their symptoms and discharged within 9 days of admission without any late complication.ConclusionChildren with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at our single institution displayed nonspecific symptoms and laboratory findings, resembling those of common viral respiratory illnesses, and did not appear to develop more severe disease

Prognostic Role of TMED3 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Multi-Cohort Analysis

Transmembrane p24 trafficking protein 3 (TMED3) is a metastatic suppressor in colon cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its function in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is unknown. Here, we report that TMED3 could be a new prognostic marker for ccRCC. Patient data were extracted from cohorts in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). Differential expression of TMED3 was observed between the low stage (Stage I and II) and high stage (Stage III and IV) patients in the TCGA and ICGC cohorts and between the low grade (Grade I and II) and high grade (Grade III and IV) patients in the TCGA cohort. Further, we evaluated TMED3 expression as a prognostic gene using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, multivariate analysis, the time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) of Uno’s C-index, and the AUC of the receiver operating characteristics at 5 years. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that TMED3 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis for ccRCC patients. Analysis of the C-indices and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve further supported this. Multivariate analysis confirmed the prognostic significance of TMED3 expression levels (P = 0.005 and 0.006 for TCGA and ICGC, respectively). Taken together, these findings demonstrate that TMED3 is a potential prognostic factor for ccRCC

Safety and Immunogenicity of a New Trivalent Inactivated Split-virus Influenza Vaccine in Healthy Korean Children: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Active-controlled, Phase III Study

We report results of a randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled, phase III study conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a new trivalent inactivated split-virus influenza vaccine (GC501) manufactured by the Green Cross Corporation in Korea. A total of 283 healthy children aged 6 months to < 18 yr were randomized to receive either GC501 or control. Of the GC501 recipients, seroconversion occurred in 48.5% for A/H1N1, 67.7% for A/H3N2 and 52% for influenza B. The proportion of subjects who had post-vaccination hemagglutination-inhibition titers of 1:40 or greater was 90.7% for A/H1N1, 86.8% for A/H3N2 and 82.4% for influenza B in the GC501 recipients. No serious adverse events related to vaccination, or withdrawals because of adverse events were reported. The majority of solicited adverse events were mild in intensity. GC501 vaccine has good tolerability and favorable immunogenicity in children aged 6 months to < 18 yr. The addition of one more brand of influenza vaccine may allow for better global accessibility of vaccine for epidemics or future pandemics