Efficacy of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq®, in Finnish infants up to 3 years of age: the Finnish Extension Study

Rotavirus Efficacy and Safety Trial (REST) enrolled nearly 70,000 infants, of whom more than 23,000 were from Finland. REST determined the efficacy of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) against rotavirus-related hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) visits in the first year after vaccination. Finnish infants initially in REST transitioned into the Finnish Extension Study (FES), where they were followed for rotavirus-related hospitalisations and ED visits through their second year of life and beyond. FES identified 150 (31%) additional rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) cases beyond those identified in REST in the Finnish participants. Overall, RV5 reduced RVGE hospitalisations and ED visits, regardless of the rotavirus serotype, by 93.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.8–95.9%) for up to 3.1 years following the last vaccine dose. Vaccine efficacy against combined hospitalisations and ED visits between ages 4 months to 11 months, 12 months to 23 months, and 24 months to 35 months was 93.9% (95% CI: 89.1–96.9%), 94.4% (95% CI: 90.2–97.0%), and 85.9% (95% CI: 51.6–97.2%), respectively. The reduction of hospitalisations and ED visits due to any acute gastroenteritis, rotavirus or not, was 62.4% (95% CI: 57.6–66.6%) over the entire follow-up period. The results from FES confirm that RV5 induces high and sustained protection against rotavirus-related hospitalisations and ED visits, and has a very substantial impact on all gastroenteritis-related hospitalisations and ED visits into the third year of life in Finnish children

Parenterally Administered Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Formulated with Aluminum Hydroxide or Monophosphoryl Lipid A Adjuvants Induces Systemic but Not Mucosal Immune Responses in Mice

Norovirus (NoV) is a main cause of acute gastroenteritis across all ages worldwide. NoV vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials are based on noninfectious highly immunogenic virus-like particles (VLPs) delivered intramuscularly (IM). Since NoV is an enteric pathogen, it is likely that mucosal immunity has a significant role in protection from infection in the intestine. Due to the fact that IM delivery of NoV VLPs does not generate mucosal immunity, we investigated whether NoV genotype GII.4 VLPs coadministered with aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) would induce mucosal antibodies in mice. Systemic as well as mucosal IgG and IgA antibodies in serum and intestinal and nasal secretions were measured. As expected, strong serum IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies as well as a dose sparing effect were induced by both Al(OH)3 and MPLA, but no mucosal IgA antibodies were detected. In contrast, IN immunization with GII.4 VLPs without an adjuvant induced systemic as well as mucosal IgA antibody response. These results indicate that mucosal delivery of NoV VLPs is needed for induction of mucosal responses

Rotavirus VP6 Adjuvant Effect on Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Uptake and Presentation by Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

We have previously shown that rotavirus (RV) inner capsid protein VP6 has an adjuvant effect on norovirus (NoV) virus-like particle- (VLP-) induced immune responses and studied the adjuvant mechanism in immortalized cell lines used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Here, we investigated the uptake and presentation of RV VP6 and NoV GII.4 VLPs by primary bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). The adjuvant effect of VP6 on GII.4 VLP presentation and NoV-specific immune response induction by BMDC in vivo was also studied. Intracellular staining demonstrated that BMDCs internalized both antigens, but VP6 more efficiently than NoV VLPs. Both antigens were processed and presented to antigen-primed T cells, which responded by robust interferon γ secretion. When GII.4 VLPs and VP6 were mixed in the same pulsing reaction, a subpopulation of the cells had uptaken both antigens. Furthermore, VP6 copulsing increased GII.4 VLP uptake by 37% and activated BMDCs to secrete 2-5-fold increased levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α compared to VLP pulsing alone. When in vitro-pulsed BMDCs were transferred to syngeneic BALB/c mice, VP6 improved NoV-specific antibody responses. The results of this study support the earlier findings of VP6 adjuvant effect in vitro and in vivo

KNX -omakotitalon käyttöliittymän toteutus Schneider homeLYnkin avulla

Opinnäytetyössä vertailtiin vaihtoehtoisia toteutustekniikoita ja tutkittiin KNX-väyläisen omakotitalon visuaalisen käyttöliittymän ja etäohjauksen toteuttamista Schneider Electricin homeLYnk logiikka- ja visualisointimoduulin avulla. Työn aluksi vertailtiin Schneider homeLYnkin ja kilpailevan ratkaisun, Loxone Miniserverin, ominaisuuksia. Tässä työssä päädyttiin käyttämään toteutuksessa Schneider homeLYnkia. HomeLYnkin avulla toteutettiin talon graafinen käyttöliittymä asiakkaan toiminnallisten vaatimusten ja hyvän käytettävyyden periaatteiden mukaisesti. Lisäksi kohteeseen muodostettiin kaikkialta käytettävissä oleva tietoturvallinen etäyhteys ja etävalvonta. Käyttöliittymä toimii selaimella, tablettitietokoneella ja älypuhelimella. Voidaan todeta, että työn tulos täyttää varsin hyvin sille asetetut vaatimukset ja Schneider homeLYnk oli onnistunut laitevalinta tähän tarkoitukseen. Työmäärä ensimmäistä kertaa tehtäessä oli suuri, mutta vastaavan toteutuksen tekeminen uuteen kohteeseen on huomattavasti nopeampaa. Työn ohessa löytyi lisäksi paljon mahdollisuuksia Schneider homeLYnkin hyödyntämiseen myös vaativammissa kohteissa ja monipuolisemmilla tavoilla.The purpose of this thesis was to create a visual user interface and remote control capability for a single family house that features a KNX bus system. The chosen hardware platform for the visualization is Schneider Electric homeLYnk. In the first part Schneider homeLYnk and Loxone Miniserver are compared as possible visualization platforms and the rationale for choosing homeLYnk over Miniserver for this project is explained. The realization part explains the methods used to create a user interface that meets the requirements for features and usability, the problems that where encountered in the process and how they were solved. It also explains the steps that were needed to create a secure remote connection. In the final part the result is compared to the original design requirements. In conclusion, the finished system meets the design requirements and the homeLYnk was a good hardware choice for this project. In the process a lot of information was gathered about the functionality of the Schneider homeLYnk, which can be later used in more demanding projects

Cross subclade immunity after one-year booster immunization with MF59®-adjuvanted A/H5N1 influenza vaccine in 6 month to 17 year-old children

Background: Since 2006 when the zoster vaccine was first icensed, one of the most commonly asked questions by patients nd clinicians has been "Should a patient with a history of herpes oster (HZ) receive the vaccine to prevent another episode?". The enefit of vaccinating immunocompetent patients who have had hingles has not been examined. The study assessed the association etween vaccination and the incidence of herpes zoster recurrence mong personswith a recent episode of clinically diagnosed herpes oster. Methods: This is a matched cohort study in Kaiser Permanente outhern California. Study populations were immunocompetent lderly≥ 60 years oldwith a recent episode of herpes zoster. Potenial recurrent HZ cases were identified electronically by ICD-9 code f 053.xx from outpatient, emergency, and inpatient files. Medcal records of electronically identified cases were retrieved and eviewed masked to vaccination status by an infectious disease pecialist using pre-specified review criteria. Incidence of recurent herpes zoster was compared between the vaccinated and the nvaccinated matched cohorts. The hazard ratio associated with accination was adjusted for a propensity score that accounted for otential confounders. Results: There were total 1,036 vaccinated and 5,180 unvacciated members included. Based on the clinically confirmed cases, he incidence of recurrent HZ among age <70 cohort was 0.99 (95% I, 0.02-5.54) and 2.20 (95% CI, 1.10-3.93) per 1,000 person-year