Opportunity for catch-up HPV vaccination in young women after first delivery.

Background Early age at first delivery has been identified as a risk factor for high-risk HPV-type infection and cervical cancer development. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in a large public maternity hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. During June 2006 to February 2007, 301 women aged 15-24 years who gave birth to their first child were recruited between 43 and 60 days after delivery. Detection of HPV DNA in cervical specimens was performed using a standardised PCR protocol with PGMY09/11 primers. The association of selected factors with HPV infection was assessed by using a Generalised Linear Model. Results HPV DNA was detected in 58.5% (95% CI 52.7% to 64.0%) of the enrolled young women. The most common types of HPV found were: HPV16, HPV51, HPV52, HPV58 and HPV71. The overall prevalence of HPV types targeted by the HPV prophylactic vaccines was: HPV 16-12.0%, HPV 18-2.3% and HPV 6 and 11 4.3%. In the multivariate analysis, only age (inversely, p for trend=0.02) and smoking habits were independently associated with HPV infection. Conclusions The findings show that these young primiparous women had high cervical HPV prevalence, suggesting that this is a high-risk group for cervical cancer development. Nevertheless, 17.3% were positive for any of the four HPV types included in HPV vaccines (HPV6, 11, 16 or 18), with 13.3% positive for HPV 16 or 18 and only 1.0% having both vaccine related-oncogenic HPV types. Thus, young primiparous women could benefit from catch-up HPV vaccination programmes.

Intravaginal and subcutaneous immunization induced vaccine specific CD8 T cells and tumor regression in the bladder.

PURPOSE: Vaccines targeting tumor associated antigens are in development for bladder cancer. Most of these cancers are nonmuscle invasive at diagnosis and confined in the mucosa and submucosa. However, to our knowledge how vaccination may induce the regression of tumors at such mucosal sites has not been examined previously. We compared different immunization routes for the ability to induce vaccine specific antitumor CD8 T cells in the bladder and bladder tumor regression in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the absence of a murine bladder tumor model expressing a tumor antigen relevant for human use we established an orthotopic model expressing the HPV-16 tumor antigen E7 as a model. We used an adjuvant E7 polypeptide to induce CD8 T cell mediated tumor regression. RESULTS: Subcutaneous and intravaginal but not intranasal vaccination induced a high number of TetE7(+)CD8(+) T cells in the bladder as well as bladder tumor regression. The entry of vaccine specific T cells in the bladder was not the only key since persistent regression of established bladder tumors by intravaginal or subcutaneous immunization was associated with tumor infiltration of total CD4 and CD8 T cells. This resulted in an increase in TetE7(+)CD8(+) T cells and a decrease in T regulatory cells, leading to an increased number of effector interferon-γ secreting vaccine specific CD8 T cells in the regressing bladder tumor. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that immunization routes should be tailored to each mucosal tumor site. Subcutaneous or intravaginal vaccination may be of additional value to treat patients with bladder cancer.

Lottery Action, December 13, 2004 - January 2, 2005, Vol. 11, no. 23

Iowa Lottery Newsletter for Retailers

Rotavirus specific plasma secretory immunoglobulin in children with acute gastroenteritis and children vaccinated with an attenuated human rotavirus vaccine.

Rotavirus (RV)-specific secretory immunoglobulin (RV-SIg) has been previously detected in serum of naturally RV infected children and shown to reflect the intestinal Ig immune response. Total plasma SIgA and plasma RV-SIg were evaluated by ELISA in children with gastroenteritis due or not due to RV infection and in 50 children vaccinated with the attenuated RIX4414 human RV vaccine and 62 placebo recipients. RV-SIg was only detected in children with evidence of previous RV infection or with acute RV gastroenteritis. Vaccinees had higher RV-SIg titers than placebo recipients and RV-SIg titers increased after the second vaccine dose. RV-SIg measured after the second dose correlated with protection when vaccinees and placebo recipients were analyzed jointly. RV-SIg may serve as a valuable correlate of protection for RV vaccines.

Vaccine and immunotherapeutic interventions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As we enter the fourth decade in HIV epidemic, advances in understanding HIV pathogenesis and development of potent and safer antiretroviral drugs have been spectacular. More than 30 antiviral drugs have been registered and the impact of combination antiviral therapy on morbidity and mortality has been dramatic. However, despite long-term virus suppression, HIV invariably rebounds after interruption of therapy. Long-term antiviral therapy does not cure HIV infection nor does it induce restoration/development of virus-specific immune responses capable of controlling HIV replication. Therefore, development of immune-based interventions is needed to restore effective defenses that can lead to HIV functional cure and ultimately eradication. RECENT FINDINGS: Therapeutic vaccination and immune interventions that generate de-novo or that boost preexisting HIV-specific T-cell responses are being investigated as a potential means to achieve a 'functional HIV cure'. One major hurdle in the quest of an HIV cure is control and elimination of the HIV latent reservoir. Several immune interventions that target the latent reservoir have been tried in recent years. In parallel, several therapeutic vaccination strategies have been developed and tested in early clinical studies. Recent encouraging studies show for the first time that vaccination can have an impact on HIV load. SUMMARY: This review summarizes the main immune interventions evaluated over the last years. Ways to improve them, as well as challenges in monitoring/evaluating effects of such strategies, are being discussed. In addition, clinical efficacy and potential clinical benefits of immunotherapeutic interventions are particularly difficult to measure. This review highlights current assays used and their shortcoming.

Technology transfer of an oil-in-water vaccine-adjuvant for strengthening pandemic influenza preparedness in Indonesia.

With the current enzootic circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, the ability to increase global pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity is of paramount importance. This has been highlighted by, and is one of the main pillars of, the WHO Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (GAP). Such capacity expansion is especially relevant in developing countries. The Vaccine Formulation Laboratory at University of Lausanne is engaged in the technology transfer of an antigen-sparing oil-in-water adjuvant in order to empower developing countries vaccine manufacturers to increase pandemic influenza vaccine capacity. In a one-year project funded by United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Vaccine Formulation Laboratory transferred the process know-how and associated equipment for the pilot-scale manufacturing of an oil-in-water adjuvant to Bio Farma, Indonesia's state-owned vaccine manufacturer, for subsequent formulation with H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccines. This paper describes the experience acquired and lessons learnt from this technology transfer project.

Kyrie eleison [VIII] : 13 °Centenaire de St. Grégoire Magno : chant grégorien d'aprés la 2e édition de Solesmes / [Dom Antonio] Rella, chef de choeur

[Chant grégorien. Messe]

EPI Update, May 13 2005

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

EPI Update, January 13, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

ABD e-News January 13, 2006

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Iowa Lottery Action Newsletter, January 1-January 22, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 1

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Iowa Lottery Action, January 23-February 5, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 2

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