Rubella antibodies in Australian immunoglobulin products

Rubella antibodies are not routinely measured in immunoglobulin products and there is a lack of information on the titer in Australian products. To facilitate future studies of the effectiveness of passive immunisation for preventing rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, this study measured the concentration of rubella-specific antibodies in Australian intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) human immunoglobulin products suitable for post-exposure prophylaxis using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. The GMT ± GSD for the IM product was 19 ± 1.2 IU/mg (2980 ± 1.2 IU/mL). The GMT ± GSD for the IV product was 12 ± 1.5 IU/mg (729 ± 1.5 IU/mL). At present, Australian guidelines recommend offering non-immune pregnant women exposed to rubella 20 mL of intramuscular immunoglobulin within 72 hours of exposure. This equates to 42,160 IU of rubella antibodies if the lowest titer obtained for the Australian IM product is considered. The same dose would be delivered by 176 mL of the Australian IV product at the lowest measured rubella-specific antibody titer

Do Australian immunoglobulin products meet international measles antibody titer standards?

The effectiveness of passive immunisation post-exposure to measles appears subject to a dose-response effect. New Zealand and the United Kingdom have increased the recommended dose of polyclonal human immunoglobulin for post-exposure prophylaxis within the last decade in response to concerns about decreasing levels of measles antibodies in these products. This study used the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) to measure the titer of measles-specific antibodies in Australian immunoglobulin products for post-exposure prophylaxis and compared the utility of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to the PRNT in available Australian and international samples: Australian intramuscular (n = 10), Australian intravenous (n = 28), New Zealand intramuscular (n = 2), Hizentra (subcutaneous)(USA) (n = 3), and Privigen (intravenous)(USA) (n = 2). Measles titres in Australian IM and IV immunoglobulins ranged from 51 to 76 IU/mL and 6 to 24 IU/mL respectively, as measured by PRNT calibrated to the WHO 3rd international standard. ELISA titres were variable but higher than PRNT titres in all tested samples. Measles antibody titres in Australian immunoglobulin products meet consensus-prescribed international thresholds. Development of a convenient, standardized, readily accessible assay for determination of measles titres in immunoglobulin products would be useful for future studies and facilitate international comparisons

Fabrication of corrosion resistant, bioactive and antibacterial silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania composite coating on Cp Ti

The present work is aimed at developing a bioactive, corrosion resistant and anti bacterial nanostructured silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania (AgHA/TiO(2)) composite coating in a single step on commercially pure titanium (Cp Ti) by plasma electrolytic processing (PEP) technique. For this purpose 2.5 wt% silver substituted hydroxyapatite (AgHA) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave processing technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The as-synthesized AgHA particles with particle length ranging from 60 to 70 nm and width ranging from 15 to 20 nm were used for the subsequent development of coating on Cp Ti. The PEP treated Cp Ti showed both titania and AgHA in its coating and exhibited an improved corrosion resistance in 7.4 pH simulated body fluid (SBF) and 4.5 pH osteoclast bioresorbable conditions compared to untreated Cp Ti. The in vitro bioactivity test conducted under Kokubo SBF conditions indicated an enhanced apatite forming ability of PEP treated Cp Ti surface compared to that of the untreated Cp Ti. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method or antibiotic sensitivity test conducted with the test organisms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) for 24 h showed a significant zone of inhibition for PEP treated Cp Ti compared to untreated Cp Ti. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved

Association of Cannabis Use Disorder With Hospitalizations for Pulmonary Embolism and Subsequent in‐Hospital Mortality in Young Adults: A Contemporary Nationwide Analysis

Background With the increase in popularity of cannabis and its use and the lack of large‐scale data on cannabis use and venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism (PE), we used a nationally representative cohort of young adults (aged 18–44 years) to compare the odds of admissions and in‐hospital mortality of PE with and without cannabis use disorder (CUD). Methods and Results Identified patients with PE using the National Inpatient Sample (2018) were compared for baseline, comorbidities, and outcomes. Multivariable regression analysis, adjusted for covariates, was used to compare the odds of PE in young patients with CUD (CUD+) versus those without (CUD−) and those with prior venous thromboembolism. Propensity score–matched analysis (1:6) was also performed to assess in‐hospital outcomes. A total of 61 965 (0.7%) of 8 438 858 young adult admissions in 2018 were PE related, of which 1705 (0.6%) had CUD+. On both unadjusted (odds ratio, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.71–0.90]; P<0.001) and adjusted regression analyses, the CUD+ cohort had a lower risk of PE admission. The CUD+ cohort had fewer routine discharges (58.3% versus 68.3%) and higher transfers to short‐term (7.9% versus 4.8%) and nursing/intermediate care (12.6% versus 9.5%) (P<0.001). The PE‐CUD+ cohort of in‐hospital mortality did not differ from the CUD− cohort. Propensity score–matched (1:6) analysis revealed comparable mortality odds with higher median hospital stay and cost in the CUD+ cohort. Conclusions Young adults with CUD demonstrated lower odds of PE hospitalizations without any association with subsequent in‐hospital mortality. The median hospital stay of the CUD+ cohort was longer, they were often transferred to other facilities, and they had a higher cost

Solution NMR structure of the C-terminal domain of the human protein DEK

The chromatin-associated protein DEK was first identified as a fusion protein in patients with a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia. It has since become associated with diverse human ailments ranging from cancers to autoimmune diseases. Despite much research effort, the biochemical basis for these clinical connections has yet to be explained. We have identified a structural domain in the C-terminal region of DEK [DEK(309–375)]. DEK(309–375) implies clinical importance because it can reverse the characteristic abnormal DNA-mutagen sensitivity in fibroblasts from ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients. We determined the solution structure of DEK(309–375) by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and found it to be structurally homologous to the E2F/DP transcription factor family. On the basis of this homology, we tested whether DEK(309–375) could bind DNA and identified the DNA-interacting surface. DEK presents a hydrophobic surface on the side opposite the DNA-interacting surface. The structure of the C-terminal region of DEK provides insights into the protein function of DEK

Antifungal activity of Ag:hydroxyapatite thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition on Ti and Ti modified by TiO2 nanotubes substrates

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a widely used biomaterial for implant thin films, largely recognized for its excellent capability to chemically bond to hard tissue inducing the osteogenesis without immune response from human tissues. Nowadays, intense research efforts are focused on development of antimicrobial HA doped thin films. In particular, HA doped with Ag (Ag:HA) is expected to inhibit the attachment of microbes and contamination of metallic implant surface. We herewith report on nano-sized HA and Ag:HA thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition on pure Ti and Ti modified with 100 nm diameter TiO2 nanotubes (fabricated by anodization of Ti plates) substrates. The HA-based thin films were characterized by SEM, AFM, EDS, FUR, and XRD. The cytotoxic activity was tested with HEp2 cells against controls. The antifungal efficiency of the deposited layers was tested against the Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger strains. The Ti substrates modified with TiO2 nanotubes covered with Ag:HA thin films showed the highest antifungal activity