Immune response of single dose vaccination against 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in the Taiwanese elderly.

We conducted a multi-center, randomized and laboratory-blinded clinical trial with subgroup analyses, involving adults aged greater than 60 years old (range 61-86 years old), to investigate the immunogenicity and the potential factors affecting the immune response of a monovalent, unadjuvanted, inactivated, split-virus vaccine. A total of 107 subjects were randomized to receive 15 and 30 microg of hemagglutinin antigen in a 1:1 ratio. The immunogenicity was detected through hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test of serum obtained before and 3 weeks after vaccination.

Immunogenicity and safety of a monovalent vaccine for the 2009 pandemic influenza virus A (H1N1) in children and adolescents.

The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) has caused significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Safety and immunogenicity studies of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in children and adolescents are limited. In this prospective, open-label study, 2 doses of a monovalent, unadjuvanted, inactivated, split-virus 2009 pandemic influenza virus A (H1N1) vaccine (AdimFlu-S) were administered to 183 healthy children and adolescents aged 1-17 years.

Rice SUVH histone methyltransferase genes display specific functions in chromatin modification and retrotransposon repression.

Histone lysine methylation plays an important role in heterochromatin formation and reprogramming of gene expression. SET-domain-containing proteins are shown to have histone lysine methyltransferase activities. A large number of SET-domain genes are identified in plant genomes.

Low seroprotection against preseasonal influenza local strains in children might predict the upcoming epidemic influenza strains.

BACKGROUND. Our objective was to determine the serological signals that indicated the possible dominant circulating influenza virus subtypes for the coming influenza seasons. METHODS.

Safety and immunogenicity of the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine: a randomized, controlled trial in adolescent girls.

Purpose: Immunization of girls against oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types before sexual debut is important for cervical cancer prevention. This phase III blinded, randomized, controlled trial in adolescent girls assessed safety of the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine.

Methods: Girls (mean age 12 years) in 12 countries received the HPV-16/18 L1 virus-like particle AS04-adjuvanted vaccine (N = 1,035) or hepatitis A virus vaccine as control (N = 1,032) at 0, 1, and 6 months.

Determination of immune memory to hepatitis B vaccination through early booster response in college students.

Unlabelled: The long-term protection of hepatitis B (HB) vaccination has been debated for years. The purpose here was to evaluate the kinetic changes of antibody to HB surface antigen (anti-HBs) and define immune memory of the HB vaccine among college students who had previously received full neonatal immunization against HB. In all, 127 college students aged 18-23 years born after July 1984 who had completed HB vaccination and were seronegative for all three HB viral markers, including HB surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HB core protein (anti-HBc), and anti-HBs, were recruited.

Microbiology and epidemiology of brain abscess and subdural empyema in a medical center: a 10-year experience.

Background And Purpose: Brain abscess and subdural empyema are the 2 most common forms of intracranial pyogenic infections. Predisposing factors and etiological agents may change with time. This study examined the epidemiological features of these conditions.

The epidemiology of hospitalized children with pneumococcal/lobar pneumonia and empyema from 1997 to 2004 in Taiwan.

Pneumococcal/lobar pneumonia and empyema have an important impact on the health of children worldwide. There has been no epidemiological study of pneumococcal/lobar pneumonia and empyema in Taiwan, a middle-income Asian population. Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database, we collected and analyzed data obtain from medical care claims related to pneumococcal/lobar pneumonia and empyema for children below the 18 years old from 1997 to 2004.

ITPKC gene SNP rs28493229 and Kawasaki disease in Taiwanese children.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis caused by unknown infectious agents, host immune dysregulation and genetic susceptibility in children. Coronary artery lesions (CALs) complicate 15-25% of cases of untreated KD. The aim of this study was to investigate if the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs28493229 of the ITPKC gene is associated with susceptibility to KD or with CALs in Taiwanese children.

Epidemiology and treatment of Bell's palsy in children in northern Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Bell's palsy is not uncommon in children. This study was performed to evaluate the epidemiology of Bell's palsy in the northern Taiwanese pediatric population, and the effectiveness of corticosteroid treatment.

Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of facial palsy from April 2002 through March 2007 were reviewed.

Disease burden and epidemiology of herpes zoster in pre-vaccine Taiwan.

Herpes zoster, a common disease, has an important impact on the health of adults, particularly the elderly, and the health system. This study evaluated the disease burden and epidemiological characteristics of herpes zoster in Taiwan. Using herpes zoster-related ICD-9-CM codes used on Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims, we analyzed overall and age group differences in incidence, complications, utilization of healthcare facilities, lengths of stay, and cost of their medical care in Taiwan's population from 2000 to 2005.

Boostrix: a reduced-dose acellular pertussis vaccine for use in adolescents and adults.

Pertussis remains a serious problem in many countries. Even in countries with high vaccine coverage and a long vaccination history, pertussis outbreaks occur periodically. Rather than being a disease of young children, pertussis has shifted to affect adolescents and adults.

Perinatal tuberculosis in a 73-day-old infant.

A 73-day-old female infant presented with cough and fever. A chest roentgenogram showed a pneumonic patch, but empirical antibiotic treatment failed. The pathology of an excisional biopsy specimen confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis.

Safety and immunogenicity of a tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine against meningococcal disease.

Background/purpose: Meningococcal disease, including meningitis and sepsis, usually follows an invasive infection by Neisseria meningitidis, and is a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Currently available meningococcal vaccines that consist of pure capsular polysaccharides (serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y) are generally safe and efficacious in adults and children aged > 2 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of a single dose of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' Mencevax ACWY vaccine in healthy Taiwanese subjects aged 2-30 years.

Novel swine-origin influenza virus A (H1N1): the first pandemic of the 21st century.

An influenza epidemic was detected in April 2009 at the border between the United States and Mexico. The virus was identified soon after to be a swine-origin influenza virus A (S-OIV A) (H1N1). This virus has an HA gene that is derived from the 1918 swine influenza virus and other genes from human, avian, and Eurasian swine influenza viruses.

Structure of the alkalohyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus fulgidus lipase contains a unique C-terminal domain essential for long-chain substrate binding.

Several crystal structures of AFL, a novel lipase from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus, complexed with various ligands, have been determined at about 1.8 A resolution. This enzyme has optimal activity in the temperature range of 70-90 degrees C and pH 10-11.

Coxsackieviruses infection in northern Taiwan--epidemiology and clinical characteristics.

Background And Purpose: The epidemiology of coxsackievirus has rarely been investigated in Taiwan. This study was performed to ascertain the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coxsackievirus infections in Taiwan.

Methods: 457 patients treated at a medical center in northern Taiwan who were positive for coxsackievirus were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Disease burden and epidemiological characteristics of varicella in Taiwan from 2000 to 2005.

Background And Purpose: Varicella has an important impact on public health, especially before the introduction of the varicella vaccine. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics and disease burden of varicella during the introduction of the varicella vaccine for mass vaccination in Taiwan.

Methods: The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes related to varicella (052, 052.

A prospective, multicenter study of caspofungin for the treatment of documented Candida or Aspergillus infections in pediatric patients.

Objective: We evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of caspofungin in pediatric patients with invasive aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, or esophageal candidiasis.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, open-label study in children 3 months to 17 years of age with proven or probable invasive aspergillosis, proven invasive candidiasis, or proven esophageal candidiasis. All of the patients received caspofungin 70 mg/m(2) on day 1, followed by 50 mg/m(2) per day (maximum: 70 mg/day), as primary or salvage monotherapy.

Epidemiologic features of Kawasaki disease in Taiwan, 2003-2006.

Objective: Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children worldwide. This study characterizes the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease in Taiwan between 2003 and 2006.

Methods: Using Taiwan's 2003-2006 national health insurance claims, we investigated the epidemiologic features of Kawasaki disease (ICD-9-CM code 446.

Cost-effectiveness of childhood rotavirus vaccination in Taiwan.

Objective: Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children. Two rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) have been licensed in Taiwan. We have investigated whether routine infant immunization with either vaccine could be cost-effective in Taiwan.