An R848 adjuvanted influenza vaccine promotes early activation of B cells in the draining lymph nodes of non-human primate neonates.

Impaired immune responsiveness is a significant barrier to vaccination of neonates. By way of example, the low seroconversion observed following influenza vaccination has led to restriction of its use to infants over 6 months of age, leaving younger infants vulnerable to infection. Our previous studies using a non-human primate neonate model demonstrated that the immune response elicited following vaccination with inactivated influenza virus could be robustly increased by inclusion of the Toll-like receptor agonist flagellin or R848, either delivered individually or in combination.

Predicting restoration of kidney function during CRRT-free intervals.

Background: Renal failure is common in critically ill patients and frequently requires continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). CRRT is discontinued at regular intervals for routine changes of the disposable equipment or for replacing clogged filter membrane assemblies. The present study was conducted to determine if the necessity to continue CRRT could be predicted during the CRRT-free period.

A pilot study to assess frequency of carriage and routes of acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus by healthy infants.

Healthy infants frequently acquire Staphylococcus aureus colonization; however, the modes of transmission are not well defined. In this study, 8 of 23 (35%) infants cultured at age 2 weeks acquired S aureus carriage, but only 1 infant had a family member with nasal carriage of the same clone, suggesting that sources other than colonized family members may account for a significant proportion of cases.

Is bovine dentine an appropriate substitute for human dentine in erosion/abrasion tests?

The study aimed to compare the dentine wear of primary and permanent human and bovine teeth because of erosion/abrasion and evaluate if bovine dentine is an appropriate substitute for human dentine in further erosion/abrasions tests. Dentine samples from deciduous molars and human third molars as well as from calves' and cattle's lower incisors were prepared and baseline surface profiles were recorded. Each day all samples were demineralized in 1% citric acid, tooth brushed with 100 brushing strokes with toothpaste slurry and stored in artificial saliva for the rest of the day.

The potential of deciduous and permanent bovine enamel as substitute for deciduous and permanent human enamel: Erosion-abrasion experiments.

Aim of the present study was to compare toothbrushing abrasion of eroded human and bovine enamel utilizing a toothpaste slurry. The surfaces of each 36 teeth from cattle and calves and from each 36 human wisdom teeth and deciduous teeth were polished. Each 12 specimens from the respective tooth type were used for assessing toothbrushing abrasion only (A), erosion only (E) and the combination of erosion and toothbrushing abrasion (EA).