Immunogenicity and safety of a quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine compared with a standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine in healthy people aged 60 years or older: a randomized Phase III trial

A quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4-HD) is licensed for adults 6565 y of age based on immunogenicity and efficacy studies. However, IIV4-HD has not been evaluated in adults aged 60\u201364 y. This study compared immunogenicity and safety of IIV4-HD with a standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4-SD) in adults aged 6560 y. This Phase III, randomized, modified double-blind, active-controlled study enrolled 1,528 participants aged 6560 y, randomized 1:1 to a single injection of IIV4-HD or IIV4-SD. Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) geometric mean titers (GMTs) were measured at baseline and D 28 and seroconversion assessed. Safety was described for 180 d after vaccination. The primary immunogenicity objective was superiority of IIV4-HD versus IIV4-SD, for all four influenza strains 28 d post vaccination in participants aged 60\u201364 and 6565 y. IIV4-HD induced a superior immune response versus IIV4-SD in terms of GMTs in participants aged 60\u201364 y and those aged 6565 y for all four influenza strains. IIV4-HD induced higher GMTs in those aged 60\u201364 y than those aged 6565 y. Seroconversion rates were higher for IIV4-HD versus IIV4-SD in each age-group for all influenza strains. Both vaccines were well tolerated in participants 6560 y of age, with no safety concerns identified. More solicited reactions were reported with IIV4-HD than with IIV4-SD. IIV4-HD provided superior immunogenicity versus IIV4-SD and was well tolerated in adults aged 6560 y. IIV4-HD is assumed to offer improved protection against influenza compared with IIV4-SD in adults aged 6560 y, as was previously assessed for adults aged 6565 y

Harmful Elements in Estuarine and Coastal Systems

Estuaries and coastal zones are dynamic transitional systems which provide many economic and ecological benefits to humans, but also are an ideal habitat for other organisms as well. These areas are becoming contaminated by various anthropogenic activities due to a quick economic growth and urbanization. This chapter explores the sources, chemical speciation, sediment accumulation and removal mechanisms of the harmful elements in estuarine and coastal seawaters. It also describes the effects of toxic elements on aquatic flora and fauna. Finally, the toxic element pollution of the Venice Lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, is discussed as a case study, by presenting the procedures adopted to measure the extent of the pollution, the impacts on organisms and the restoration activities

Radiometric dating and pollutant profiles in a sediment core from the lagoon of Venice

The super(210)Pb radioactive dating technique on two cores from the northern part of the Lagoon of Venice gives an average sedimentation rate of 0.7 cm/year. This is used to date the vertical profiles of member of DDT, Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Zn and Fe concentrations. A maximum member of DDT concentration is found at a depth of 10 cm, corresponding to about 1955, in accordance with the time of the largest use of this pesticide in the area drained by the Dese river. Due to antropogenic origin the concentrations of heavy metals in the upper sediment layers are 1.3-12.7 times higher than those in the lower ones. The average concenttrations of these elements in the layers below 80 cm are tentatively proposed as natural background concentrations for the Lagoon of Venice

Radiometric dating and pollutant profiles in a sediment core from the lagoon of Venice

Thomas Coates, Richard Caemmerer, Carl Nitz.https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/cup_archives_hist-photos/1059/thumbnail.jp

Ddt and pcbs in sediments of the venice gulf

The concentrations of DDT and PCBs in surface sediments collected in the Gulf of Venice are reported. The contribution of the lagoon and of the rivers to sea sediment contamination is discussed. Fresh waters reaching the sea through the lagoon or directly from rivers are responsible for relatively high ?DDT concentrations. The Porto Marghera industrial zone located in the inner border of the lagoon is probably the main PCB source. Two transport mechanisms have been identified: mobilization of suspended solids by tidal movements and direct dumping of industrial tailing and/or dredged materials from the lagoon canals. © 1983 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC