The rights and wrongs of measles vaccination

1995 ◽  
Vol 84 (03) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. English

AbstractThere is controversy regarding immunization. This paper concentrates on measles although the evidence is more broadly based. Both mortality and morbidity figures strongly suggest that despite a few casualties the campaign has saved many lives and much suffering, even though its goal of eliminating measles has not yet been achieved. Unfortunately the immunizing effect of the vaccine has a shorter duration of action than the disease itself, and this has led to outbreaks of measles amongst older age-groups immunized as babies. Morbidity and mortality are higher when measles is contracted at older ages. A revaccination campaign is under way. Side effects from revaccination are less frequent than with primary vaccination.The incidence of a variety of chronic diseases, some of which are related to the immune system, has risen concurrently with the various immunization programmes. Opponents fear that the two phenomena are connected, and that by proceeding with immunization we are fundamentally damaging the race. While the evidence for such a connection is weak, it cannot entirely be dismissed as it is equally hard to disprove. We should remain alert to the possibility and research it honestly while continuing with the campaign, since abandoning it would undoubtedly result in much more loss of life and permanent disability.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-81
Author(s):  
Gembong Pandhu Suprobo ◽  
◽  
Karmini Yupono ◽  
Rudy Vitraludyono ◽  
◽  
...  

Dexmedetomidine, an α2 adrenergic agonist, has been commonly used as an off-label anesthetic adjuvant in various procedures and age groups. Lately, dexmedetomidine is increasingly preferred as sedation for pediatric patients undergoing MRI, which requires the patient to remain still in a deep sedation without disturbing airway patency. Dexmedetomidine administration via intranasal or buccal route is preferred for pediatric patients. Dexmedetomidine does not undergo significant pharmacokinetic changes when used in conjunction with other anesthetics, and has a good safety profile. It is 8-10 times more selective against α2 receptors than clonidine and produces sedation, analgesia, vasodilation, and bradycardia without significant airway and respiratory depression risk. Unlike other anesthetic agents, dexmedetomidine does not have any negative effect on brain development. Compared with propofol, dexmedetomidine has a longer onset and duration of action. Thus, dexmedetomidine can be used as the sole sedating agent in infants and children undergoing MRI procedures, with good sedation results and minimal side effects. However, correct dosing is very important given the side effects of bradycardia and hypotension that can occur with its use.


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Kaan ◽  
P C A van Vlokhoven ◽  
P M Schneeberger ◽  
W Nijhof

Data on efficacy of rural immunization programmes are scarce. We investigated the seroconversion rate following measles vaccination in an outreach programme in Kakamega District, Kenya. Of 170 children, 120 (71%) showed seroconversion after vaccination. Haemagglutination inhibition test was performed on paired blood samples before and 30 days or more (mean 46, range 30–70 days) after vaccination. These results are comparable to results found by other studies in developing countries. Geometrical mean titres before vaccination of children in the age group above 14 months were significantly lower than in the younger age groups ( P < 0.001). This investigation indicates that seroconversion rate studies are feasible in remote rural areas.


Author(s):  
Deborah J Mills ◽  
Colleen L Lau ◽  
Christine Mills ◽  
Luis Furuya-Kanamori

Abstract Background Current guidelines for rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommend multiple vaccine doses. Travellers sometimes present for pre-travel consultation with insufficient time to complete standard PrEP schedules. We investigated the efficacy of one-dose intramuscular (IM) vaccine in priming the immune system (as PrEP) by measuring antibody response to simulated post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Methods A quasi-experimental pre–post intervention clinical trial was conducted at a specialist travel clinic in Australia. Adults (≥18 years) without a history of rabies vaccination were included. At Visit 1, seronegative status was confirmed and one dose of 0.5 ml IM rabies vaccine (Verorab®) administered. At Visit 2 (≥60 days after Visit 1), serology was repeated and a simulated PEP dose (0.5 ml IM) given on this day and again 3 days later (Visit 3). Serology was repeated at Visit 4 (7 days after Visit 2). Results A total of 94 antibody-negative participants were included (&lt;50 years [n = 50]; ≥50 years [n = 44]). At Visit 2, 38.0 and 31.8% of participants aged &lt;50 and ≥50 years were antibody-positive (≥0.5 EU/ml). At Visit 4, all participants were antibody-positive; 82.0 and 47.7% of participants aged &lt;50 and ≥50 years had antibody levels &gt;4 EU/ml, respectively. Conclusions One-dose IM vaccine was effective as PrEP for priming the immune system in both age groups, resulting in rapid development of antibodies 7 days after commencing simulated PEP. If there is insufficient time to complete a standard PrEP schedule, one-dose IM could be considered as an alternative schedule for short trips, rather than not offering travellers any doses at all. Clinical trials registration: ACTRN12619000946112.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Li ◽  
Yinzi Chen ◽  
Xiling Wang ◽  
Hongjie Yu

AbstractInfluenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Many original studies have been carried out to estimate disease burden of influenza in mainland China, while the full disease burden has not yet been systematically reviewed. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the burden of influenza-associated mortality, hospitalization, and outpatient visit in mainland China. We searched 3 English and 4 Chinese databases with studies published from 2005 to 2019. Studies reporting population-based rates of mortality, hospitalization, or outpatient visit attributed to seasonal influenza were included in the analysis. Fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates of influenza-associated mortality depending on the degree of heterogeneity. Meta-regression was applied to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger’s test. We identified 30 studies eligible for inclusion with 17, 8, 5 studies reporting mortality, hospitalization, and outpatient visit associated with influenza, respectively. The pooled influenza-associated all-cause mortality rates were 14.33 and 122.79 per 100,000 persons for all ages and ≥ 65 years age groups, respectively. Studies were highly heterogeneous in aspects of age group, cause of death, statistical model, geographic location, and study period, and these factors could explain 60.14% of the heterogeneity in influenza-associated mortality. No significant publication bias existed in estimates of influenza-associated all-cause mortality. Children aged < 5 years were observed with the highest rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations and ILI outpatient visits. People aged ≥ 65 years and < 5 years contribute mostly to mortality and morbidity burden due to influenza, which calls for targeted vaccination policy for older adults and younger children in mainland China.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Villamor ◽  
Wafaie W. Fawzi

SUMMARY Vitamin A supplementation to preschool children is known to decrease the risks of mortality and morbidity from some forms of diarrhea, measles, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and malaria. These effects are likely to be the result of the actions of vitamin A on immunity. Some of the immunomodulatory mechanisms of vitamin A have been described in clinical trials and can be correlated with clinical outcomes of supplementation. The effects on morbidity from measles are related to enhanced antibody production and lymphocyte proliferation. Benefits for severe diarrhea could be attributable to the functions of vitamin A in sustaining the integrity of mucosal epithelia in the gut, whereas positive effects among HIV-infected children could also be related to increased T-cell lymphopoiesis. There is no conclusive evidence for a direct effect of vitamin A supplementation on cytokine production or lymphocyte activation. Under certain circumstances, vitamin A supplementation to infants has the potential to improve the antibody response to some vaccines, including tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and measles. There is limited research on the effects of vitamin A supplementation to adults and the elderly on their immune function; currently available data provide no consistent evidence for beneficial effects. Additional studies with these age groups are needed.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 1529-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Y. Konadu ◽  
Feng-Ying C. Lin ◽  
Vô Anh Hó ◽  
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy ◽  
Phan Van Bay ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A O-specific polysaccharide (O-SP) was activated with 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium tetrafluoroborate (CDAP) and bound to tetanus toxoid (TT) with adipic acid dihydrazide as a linker (SPA-TT1) or directly (SPA-TT2). In mice, these two conjugates elicited high levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum with bactericidal activity (E. Konadu, J. Shiloach, D. A. Bryla, J. B. Robbins, and S. C. Szu, Infect. Immun. 64:2709–2715, 1996). The safety and immunogenicity of the two conjugates were then evaluated sequentially in Vietnamese adults, teenagers, and 2- to 4-year-old children. None of the vaccinees experienced significant side effects, and all had preexisting LPS antibodies. At 4 weeks after injection, there were significant increases of the geometric mean IgG and IgM anti-LPS levels in the adults and teenagers: both conjugates elicited a greater than fourfold rise in the IgG anti-LPS level in serum in ≥80% of the volunteers. SPA-TT2 elicited slightly higher, though not statistically significantly, levels of IgG anti-LPS than did SPA-TT1 in these age groups. Accordingly, only SPA-TT2 was evaluated in the 2- to 4-year-old children. On a random basis, one or two injections were administered 6 weeks apart to the children. No significant side effects were observed, and the levels of preexisting anti-LPS in serum were similar in children of all ages. A significant rise in the IgG anti-LPS titer was elicited by the first injection (P = 0.0001); a second injection did not elicit a booster response. Representative sera from all groups had bactericidal activity that could be adsorbed by S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A LPS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Romagnoli ◽  
Anna Baldan ◽  
Silvia Ferro ◽  
Camilla Righetti ◽  
Ludovico Scenna ◽  
...  

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess duration of efficacy, side effects and return to fertility following use of the 9.4 mg deslorelin implant (Suprelorin 12; Virbac) in cats, and test whether efficacy and duration of action are influenced by implantation site (interscapular vs periumbilical). Methods Sixteen healthy adult tom cats were checked with (1) reproductive examination, (2) gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and (3) semen collection until achievement of sterility, then with (1) and (2) only at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months, and every 6 months thereafter until treatment effect disappeared. Results Serum testosterone reached basal levels by 7 days post-treatment. Semen quality improved initially then started to worsen by 1 month post-treatment and after 70 days post-treatment all cats were sterile. Early in the third month post-treatment there was a significant decrease in testicular volume and penile spikes. Testicular histology was normal upon neutering performed after resumption of fertility. No injection site lesions or treatment-related side effects were observed. There was no difference between periumbilical and interscapular placement for all criteria, but there was a trend for the decrease in testicular volume to last longer and for the regression of penile spikes to start sooner after interscapular administration. One of 16 cats did not respond to treatment. Six cats were lost at variable times during the study while fully responding to treatment. In the cats that completed the study, normal fertility was regained after 805 days, on average, but with a variable duration of effect from 750–850 days. Conclusions and relevance Treatment with a 9.4 mg deslorelin implant in male cats was effective for a period of 750–850 days, which is 1.5–2 times longer than the effect of the 4.7 mg deslorelin implant. Fertility (based on serum testosterone production and the presence of penile spikes) was regained at the end of the study. Placing implants in the intrascapular vs periumbilical location did not affect duration of suppression of testosterone production. The interscapular location may be characterised by a better efficacy, although further studies are needed to clarify this issue.


Author(s):  
Fatih Yılmaz ◽  
Havva Kaya ◽  
Mehmet Özdemir

Abstract Objective Gastroenteritis is a disease that affects all age groups, especially children, and causes high mortality and morbidity in all countries. The most common agents of acute gastroenteritis are viral agents. As a result, millions of diarrhea attacks and hospital admissions occur worldwide every year due to viral gastroenteritis. This study uses the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to investigate the viruses that are the causative agents of viral gastroenteritis in the pediatric patient group in Konya, Turkey. Methods Stool samples of 94 patients aged 0 to 18 years sent from Emergency clinics and Pediatric outpatient clinics, Meram Medical Faculty Hospital Pediatric clinics, Konya Necmettin Erbakan University to Medical Microbiology Laboratory with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis between February and December 2018 were included in the study. Stool samples were stored at –80°C until the time of the analysis. Deoxyribonucleic acid/ribonucleic acid isolation from stool samples was performed with EZ1 Virus Mini Kit v2.0 (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) using an automatic extraction system (BioRobot EZ1 system, Qiagen). The presence of astrovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus (GI, GII), and sapovirus agents was investigated by the multiplex PCR method (Fast Track Diagnostics, Luxembourg) viral gastroenteritis kit. Results Viral gastroenteritis agents were detected in 56.3% of the patients. One viral agent was detected in 47 (50%) of these patients and at least two viral agents in 6 (6.3%) of them. Norovirus GII was detected in 20 (21.2%) of the children included in the study, adenovirus in 13 (13.8%), rotavirus in 11 (12.8%), astrovirus in 11 (11.7%), sapovirus in 4 (4.2%), and norovirus GI in 1 (1.06%). When the distribution of viral agents was examined by months, the most number of agents were observed (21; 35%) in May, followed by April and June (12; 20%). Considering the distribution of the prevalence of the agents by age, it was seen to be mainly between 0 and 12 months (42%). Conclusion Considering that the most common viral agent in our region is norovirus GII, it will be useful to investigate the norovirus that is not routinely examined in children who are admitted to clinics with the complaint of gastroenteritis. It will be appropriate to examine routinely adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus in the laboratory, especially in children with diarrhea and vomiting in the winter and spring months.


1991 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-8

Bromocriptine, lysuride (formerly lisuride, Revanil – Roche) and pergolide (not yet marketed in the UK) are dopamine agonists developed for use in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Combination of a dopamine agonist with levodopa plus a dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor (‘co-dieldopa’)* may have advantages at all stages of the disease. The aim of combined co-dieldopa + agonist treatment is to limit some of the problems with prolonged co-dieldopa use alone; especially fluctuations in motor disability.1 It is still not clear how the three agonists compare with each other for therapeutic efficacy, duration of action, and side effects, nor how they are best combined with co-dieldopa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-7
Author(s):  
Fritzky Indradata ◽  
Heri Dwi Purnomo ◽  
Muh. Husni Thamrin ◽  
Sugeng Budi Santoso ◽  
Ardana Tri Arianto ◽  
...  

Latar Belakang: Anestesi spinal mempunyai efek samping berupa hipotensi dan mual muntah. Tujuan: penelitian ini adalah membandingkan efek anestesi spinal bupivacain dosis normal 12,5 mg dan bupivacain dosis rendah 5 mg dengan fentanyl 50 mg pada seksio sesarea terhadap perubahan hemodinamik, ketinggian blok, onset, durasi dan efek samping. Subjek dan Metode: Penelitian double blind randomized control trial pada 36 pasien yang memenuhi kriteria. Pasien dibagi menjadi dua kelompok, yang masing-masing terdiri 18 pasien, kelompok 1 dilakukan anestesi spinal dengan bupivacain hiperbarik 5 mg ditambah adjuvan fentanyl 50 mcg, sedangkan kelompok 2 diberikan bupivacain hiperbarik 12,5 mg. Penilaian meliputi saat mula kerja blokade sensorik, mula kerja blokade motorik, durasi, tekanan darah, laju nadi, dan saturasi oksigen, lama kerja dan efek samping. Data hasil penelitian diuji secara statistik dengan uji chi-square. Hasil: Terdapat perbedaan signifikan pada onset dan durasi blokade sensorik dan motorik, bupivacain 12,5 mg lebih baik dibandingkan bupivacain 5 mg + fentanyl 50 mcg (p<0.05). Tidak ada perbedaan signifikan pada perubahan tanda vital dan efek samping (p>0.05). Simpulan: Bupivacain 12,5 mg menghasilkan onset lebih cepat dan durasi lebih lama dibandingkan bupivacain 5 mg + fentanil 50 mcg pada anestesi spinal untuk seksio sesarea   Comparison of The Effectiveness Spinal Anesthesia with Bupivacaine 12,5 Mg and Bupivacaine 5 Mg added Fentanyl 50 Mcg in Caesarean Section Abstract Background: Spinal anesthesia has side effects such as hypotension and nausea and vomiting. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of spinal anesthesia with normal doses of 12,5 mg of bupivacaine and 5 mg of low-dose bupivacaine with fentanyl 50 mg in the cesarean section on hemodynamic changes, block height, onset, duration, and side effects. Subjects and Methods: Double-blind randomized control trial in 36 patients who met the criteria. Patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 18 patients, group 1 underwent spinal anesthesia with 5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 50 mcg of fentanyl adjuvant, while group 2 was given 12,5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine. Assessments include the initiation of sensory block action, onset of motor block action, duration, blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation, duration of action, and side effects. The research data were statistically tested with the chi-square test. Results: There were significant differences in the onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, bupivacaine 12,5 mg was better than bupivacaine 5 mg + fentanyl 50 mcg (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in changes in vital signs and side effects (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Bupivacaine 12,5 mg resulted in a faster onset and longer duration than bupivacaine 5 mg + fentanyl 50 mcg in spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.


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