Evaluation of lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide as subunit vaccines against experimental melioidosis

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in endemic regions. Currently there is no human vaccine against melioidosis. In this study, LPS or capsular polysaccharide was used to immunize BALB/c mice. The different polysaccharide antigens induced antibody responses. Mice vaccinated with LPS developed predominantly IgM and IgG3 responses. Contrastingly, mice vaccinated with capsular polysaccharide developed a predominantly IgG2b response. After immunization, mice were challenged by the intra-peritoneal route and an increased mean time to death was observed compared with unvaccinated controls. Immunization with LPS provided an optimal protective response. Mice challenged by the aerosol route showed a small increase in the mean time to death compared with the unvaccinated controls. The passive transfer of antigen from immunized into naïve mice provided protection against a subsequent challenge. This study is the first time antigens protective by active immunization have been identified and suggests that polysaccharides have potential as vaccine candidates against melioidosis.

Download Full-text

Retrospective analysis of mortality within 30 days of systemic anticancer therapy and comparison with a previous audit at an Australian Regional Cancer Centre

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/10781552211016086 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107815522110160

Author(s):

Bernadatte Zimbwa ◽

Peter J Gilbar ◽

Mark R Davis ◽

Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan

Keyword(s):

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Anticancer Therapy ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Feedback Process ◽

Time To Death ◽

Cancer Centre ◽

Haematology Patients ◽

The Mean ◽

Regional Cancer Centre ◽

Mean Time

Purpose To retrospectively determine the rate of death occurring within 14 and 30 days of systemic anticancer therapy (SACT), compare this against a previous audit and benchmark results against other cancer centres. Secondly, to determine if the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), not available at the time of the initial audit, impacted mortality rates. Method All adult solid tumour and haematology patients receiving SACT at an Australian Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) between January 2016 and July 2020 were included. Results Over a 55-month period, 1709 patients received SACT. Patients dying within 14 and 30 days of SACT were 3.3% and 7.0% respectively and is slightly higher than our previous study which was 1.89% and 5.6%. Mean time to death was 15.5 days. Males accounted for 63.9% of patients and the mean age was 66.8 years. 46.2% of the 119 patients dying in the 30 days post SACT started a new line of treatment during that time. Of 98 patients receiving ICI, 22.5% died within 30 days of commencement. Disease progression was the most common cause of death (79%). The most common place of death was the RCC (38.7%). Conclusion The rate of death observed in our re-audit compares favourably with our previous audit and is still at the lower end of that seen in published studies in Australia and internationally. Cases of patients dying within 30 days of SACT should be regularly reviewed to maintain awareness of this benchmark of quality assurance and provide a feedback process for clinicians.

Download Full-text

The impact of COVID-19 infection on hip fracture 30-day mortality

Trauma ◽

10.1177/1460408620949725 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 146040862094972

Author(s):

Ahmed Fadulelmola ◽

Rob Gregory ◽

Gavin Gordon ◽

Fiona Smith ◽

Andrew Jennings

Keyword(s):

Hip Fracture ◽

Hip Fractures ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

The Elderly ◽

Primary Outcome Measure ◽

Time To Death ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact ◽

Mean Time

Introduction: A novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, has caused a fatal global pandemic which particularly affects the elderly and those with comorbidities. Hip fractures affect elderly populations, necessitate hospital admissions and place this group at particular risk from COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the effect of COVID-19 infection on 30-day hip fracture mortality. Method: Data related to 75 adult hip fractures admitted to two units during March and April 2020 were reviewed. The mean age was 83.5 years (range 65–98 years), and most (53, 70.7%) were women. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. Results: The COVID-19 infection rate was 26.7% (20 patients), with a significant difference in the 30-day mortality rate in the COVID-19-positive group (10/20, 50%) compared to the COVID-19-negative group (4/55, 7.3%), with mean time to death of 19.8 days (95% confidence interval: 17.0–22.5). The mean time from admission to surgery was 43.1 h and 38.3 h, in COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative groups, respectively. All COVID-19-positive patients had shown symptoms of fever and cough, and all 10 cases who died were hypoxic. Seven (35%) cases had radiological lung findings consistent of viral pneumonitis which resulted in mortality (70% of mortality). 30% ( n = 6) contracted the COVID-19 infection in the community, and 70% ( n = 14) developed symptoms after hospital admission. Conclusion: Hip fractures associated with COVID-19 infection have a high 30-day mortality. COVID-19 testing and chest X-ray for patients presenting with hip fractures help in early planning of high-risk surgeries and allow counselling of the patients and family using realistic prognosis.

Download Full-text

Polysaccharides and virulence of Burkholderia pseudomallei

Journal of Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1099/jmm.0.47043-0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 56 (8) ◽

pp. 1005-1010 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

M. Sarkar-Tyson ◽

J. E. Thwaite ◽

S. V. Harding ◽

S. J. Smither ◽

P. C. F. Oyston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Burkholderia Pseudomallei ◽

Capsular Polysaccharide ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

Type I ◽

Wild Type ◽

Time To Death ◽

Type Iii ◽

Type Iv ◽

Mutant Strains ◽

Delayed Time

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, an infectious disease of humans and animals. Gene clusters which encode capsular polysaccharide (type I O-PS) and LPS (type II O-PS), both of which play roles in virulence, have previously been identified. Here, the identification of two further putative clusters, type III O-PS and type IV O-PS, is reported. Mice challenged with type III O-PS or type IV O-PS mutants showed increased mean times to death (7.8 and 11.6 days) compared to those challenged with wild-type B. pseudomallei (3 days). To investigate the possible roles of polysaccharides in protection, mice were immunized with killed cells of wild-type B. pseudomallei or killed cells of B. pseudomallei with mutations in the O antigen, capsular polysaccharide, type III O-PS or type IV O-PS gene clusters. Immunization with all polysaccharide mutant strains resulted in delayed time to death compared to the naïve controls, following challenge with wild-type B. pseudomallei strain K96243. However, immunization with killed polysaccharide mutant strains conferred different degrees of protection, demonstrating the immunological importance of the polysaccharide clusters on the surface of B. pseudomallei.

Download Full-text

THE RESISTANCE OF DROSOPHILA TO ALCOHOL

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.19.3.523 ◽

1936 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 523-557 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

W. J. Crozier ◽

G. Pincus ◽

P. A. Zahl

Keyword(s):

Lethal Dose ◽

Relative Variation ◽

Time To Death ◽

Alcohol Vapor ◽

First Derivative ◽

The Mean ◽

Periodic Fluctuations ◽

Mean Time ◽

Measurable Property ◽

Uniform Population

The mean time-to-death (t) of imaginal Drosophila of an inbred line in alcohol vapor of constant partial pressure (P) is a declining rectilinear function of P for each age. The time-to-death depends upon the diffusion into the fly of an amount of alcohol sufficient to kill. It does not depend upon any measurable property of a reaction between the substance of the fly and the alcohol which produces death. The relation between t and P is independent of temperature, but the invasion coefficient S = Δt/ΔP declines with age and differs for the two sexes. The first derivative of S with respect to age exhibits sharp discontinuities. The internal alcohol required to kill declines with age, varying with S. The relative variation of t, σt/t, is directly proportional to the resistance to diffusive penetration of alcohol R, where R = 1/S. The vapor pressure of alcohol estimated to kill instantaneously shows periodic fluctuations with age; these are precisely correlated with changes in the slope of S as a function of age. Periodic fluctuations of invasibility by alcohol, and of the lethal dose, are interpreted as due to the incidence of suppressed moults. It is shown that in the accumulation of deaths as a function of time (age) in a genetically uniform population of Drosophila of one sex, similar fluctuations are apparent in the rate. The statistical smoothing of such data is not legitimate.

Download Full-text

Bio-Insecticidal Potential of Nucleopolyhedrovirus and Granulovirus Mixtures to Control the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v11080684 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 684 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paola E. Cuartas-Otálora ◽

Juliana A. Gómez-Valderrama ◽

Andrea E. Ramos ◽

Gloria P. Barrera-Cubillos ◽

Laura F. Villamizar-Rivero

Keyword(s):

Larval Mortality ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Initial Step ◽

Peritrophic Membrane ◽

Enhancer Activity ◽

Time To Death ◽

Efficient Management ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Time ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae

The ability of the isolate VG008 of S. frugiperda granulovirus (SpfrGV) to enhance the infectivity of the isolate SfCOL of S. frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpfrMNPV) was evaluated on S. frugiperda larvae. Bioassays were performed with mixtures by using different proportions 90%:10% (M1), 95%:5% (M2) and 97.5%:2.5% (M3) of SfCOL:VG008, respectively. All mixtures showed higher insecticidal activity that SfCOL. The mixture M3 showed the highest enhancement of SfCOL reducing 11.40 times the Mean Lethal Concentration and 96 h in the Mean Time to Death. The enhancer activity of proteins derived from VG008 (GVPs) were also evaluated in mixture with SfCOL. The GVPs increased 27% larval mortality caused by SfCOL and damaged the peritrophic membrane of S. litura larvae, suggesting that the key point in this enhancing activity is the initial step of the larva colonization, the midgut infection. M3 was formulated and evaluated under greenhouse conditions in maize plants using different doses. The highest efficacy was obtained with the highest dose of M3 (8 × 1011 OBs/ha), which was similar to that found when formulated SfCOL was applied using an approximately twofold higher dose. The viral mixture M3 was selected as the active ingredient for developing a new biopesticide for a more efficient management of the pest in the field.

Download Full-text

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Spanish Cohort of CKD-5D Patients: Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, Outcomes, and De-Isolation Results

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000510557 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

José Jesús Broseta ◽

Diana Rodríguez-Espinosa ◽

Elena Cuadrado ◽

Elena Guillén-Olmos ◽

Evelyn Hermida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Resources ◽

Maintenance Hemodialysis ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Time To Death ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Discharged Patients ◽

History Of ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Time

Introduction: COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that has easily spread worldwide. Outpatient maintenance hemodialysis seems to entail an increased risk of contagion, and previous reports inform of increased mortality among this population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory parameters, outcomes, and management once discharged of CKD-5D patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 from our health area. Results: Out of the 429 CKD-5D population, 36 were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (8%): 34 on in-center hemodialysis and 2 on peritoneal dialysis. Five were asymptomatic. The most common symptom was fever (70%), followed by dyspnea and cough. History of cardiovascular disease and elevation of LDH and C-reactive protein during admission were associated with higher mortality. Thirteen patients died (36%), 8 patients were admitted to an ICU, and survival was low (38%) among the latter. The mean time to death was 12 days. Most discharged patients got negative rRT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs within 26 days of diagnosis. However, there is a portion of cured patients that continue to have positive results even more than 2 months after the initial presentation. Conclusions: Patients on dialysis have an increased mortality risk if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Preventive measures have proven useful. Thus, proper ones, such as universal screening of the population and isolation when required, need to be generalized. Better de-isolation criteria are necessary to ensure an appropriate use of public health resources.

Download Full-text

Time to Resolution of Triggering after Steroid Injection for First Presentation Trigger Digits

The Journal of Hand Surgery (Asian-Pacific Volume) ◽

10.1142/s2424835520500253 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (02) ◽

pp. 214-218

Author(s):

Ryan Siqi Yak ◽

Anna-Carin Lundin ◽

Poi Hoon Tay ◽

Alphonsus KS. Chong ◽

Sandeep Jacob Sebastin

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Steroid Injection ◽

Alternative Treatments ◽

Duration Of Symptoms ◽

Grade Ii ◽

The Mean ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

First Time ◽

Mean Time ◽

Grade Iii

Background: Steroid injection is a proven treatment for trigger digits. The time taken for resolution of triggering following an injection is a question often asked by patients and one that has not been adequately addressed in existing literature. The aim of this study was to determine the time taken for triggering to resolve after a single steroid injection in patients presenting for the first time with a trigger digit. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients with first presentation of a grade II or grade III trigger digit(s) that received a steroid injection. Data with regards to age, gender, digit(s) involved, duration of symptoms, trigger grade, and presence of diabetes were collected. They were given a stamped addressed postcard with instructions to fill in the date that the triggering resolved and mail the postcard back to us. If the postcard was not received at three weeks, we contacted the patient by telephone to ask for the date of resolution of trigger. Results: 56 patients with 66 trigger digits were included in the study. 52 out of 66 digits (79%) had resolution of the trigger at one month. The mean duration for resolution of trigger was 8.8 days (range 1–30 days). Conclusions: Patients can be counselled that a steroid injection is effective in resolving the trigger in 79% of trigger digits presenting for the first time and that the mean time taken for resolution of triggering is 8.8 days. It is recommended to wait for at least one month before considering another injection or alternative treatments.

Download Full-text

The impact of COVID-19 infection on hip fractures 30-day mortality

Trauma ◽

10.1177/1460408620951352 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 146040862095135

Author(s):

Ahmed Fadulelmola ◽

Rob Gregory ◽

Gavin Gordon ◽

Fiona Smith ◽

Andrew Jennings

Keyword(s):

Hip Fractures ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

The Elderly ◽

Primary Outcome Measure ◽

Time To Death ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact ◽

Mean Time

Introduction A novel virus, SARS-CoV-2 has caused a fatal global pandemic which particularly affects the elderly and those with co-morbidities. Hip fractures affect elderly populations, necessitate hospital admissions, and place this group at particular risk from COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the effect of COVID-19 infection on 30-day hip fracture mortality. Method Data related to seventy-five adult hip fractures admitted to two units during March and April 2020 was reviewed. The mean age was 83.5 years (range 65-98 years) and most (53, 70.7%) were females. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. Results The COVID-19 infection rate was 26.7% (20 patients), with a significant difference in the 30-day mortality rate in COVID-19 positive group (10/20, 50%) compared to COVID-19 negative group (4/55, 7.3%), with mean time to death of 19.8 days (95% confidence interval 17.0-22.5). The mean time from admission to surgery was 43.1 hours and 38.3 hours, in COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative groups, respectively. All COVID-19 positive patients had shown symptoms of fever and cough, and all ten cases who died were from hypoxia. Seven (35%) cases had radiological lung findings consistent with viral pneumonitis which resulted in mortality (70% of mortality). 30% (n = 6) contracted the COVID-19 infection in the community and 70% (n = 14) developed symptoms after hospital admission. Conclusion Hip fractures associated with COVID-19 infection have a high 30-day mortality. COVID-19 testing and chest x-ray for patients presenting with hip fractures, helps in early planning of high-risk surgeries and allows counselling of the patients and family using realistic prognosis.

Download Full-text

Using the Portuguese version of the Bicultural Scale in Brazil

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy ◽

10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0050 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 156-163

Author(s):

Carlos Zubaran ◽

Katia Foresti ◽

Karina Nunes Persch

Keyword(s):

Cultural Identity ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Cronbach’S Alpha ◽

Cultural Traditions ◽

Portuguese Version ◽

Cronbach's Alpha ◽

The Mean ◽

Brazilian Culture ◽

First Time ◽

Mean Time

Abstract Introduction: Brazil has received influxes of people, mainly from Africa, Europe and Japan, forming one of the most heterogeneous populations in the world. Some groups, particularly in Southern Brazil, have retained their original cultural traditions, whilst acquiring elements of the typical local Brazilian cultural identity. This is the first study designed to formally evaluate biculturality in Brazil. Objective: To psychometrically assess and validate the Portuguese version of the Bicultural Scale (BS) in Brazil. Methods: The BS was adapted and translated to Portuguese and tested for the first time in Brazil in a sample of descendants (n = 160) from four immigrant groups and respective locations in Southern Brazil. A series of psychometric tests were conducted in order to examine the validity of the Portuguese version of the BS. Analyses of variance across scores for all subgroups were also conducted. Results: Factor analysis revealed two main factors contributing to most of the variance in scores. The 10 items measuring affiliation with minority cultural characteristics and the typical Brazilian culture yielded Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.69 and 0.78 respectively, whereas the overall Cronbach's alpha for all 20 items of the BS was 0.67. There was a significant correlation between items related to the typical Brazilian culture and the generation since immigration of research participants (r = 0.23, p = 0.004). The mean time taken to complete the questionnaire was 7.4 minutes. Conclusion: The results indicate that the Portuguese version of the BS is a valid, reliable and easy-to-use instrument to assess biculturality experienced by descendants of immigrants in southern Brazil.

Download Full-text

Influence of Temperature on Gaffkemia, a Bacterial Disease of the Lobster Homarus americanus

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f69-240 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 26 (9) ◽

pp. 2503-2510 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

James E. Stewart ◽

John W. Cornick ◽

B. M. Zwicker

Keyword(s):

Homarus Americanus ◽

Rapid Decrease ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Influence Of Temperature ◽

Time To Death ◽

Fatal Infection ◽

Influence Of Temperature On ◽

The Mean ◽

Low Levels ◽

Mean Time

The mean time to death for lobsters (Homarus americanus) infected with Gaffkya homari and kept at constant temperatures was 2 days at 20 C, 12 days at 15 C, 28 days at 10 C, 65 days at 7 C, 84 days at 5 C, and 172 days at 3 C. The lobsters were unable to mobilize at any of these temperatures systemic defenses adequate to eliminate the pathogen. No deaths that could be attributed to infection with G. homari occurred during the 250-day trial at 1 C; the pathogen, however, was not eliminated at this temperature but remained in the lobsters at low levels with virulence unchanged and gave rise to a fatal infection when the temperature was increased. Further studies showed that infected lobsters were adversely affected by a relatively rapid increase of 10 degrees C but not by a 5-degree C increase; a relatively rapid decrease of 15 degrees C but not 10 degrees C was adverse. Infected lobsters at 15 C were most sensitive to a 5-degree C decrease around the 12th day of the infection.

Download Full-text