Immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose regimen of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella live vaccine (ProQuad(®)) in infants from 9 months of age.

Vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) is currently recommended in developed countries for infants from 12 months of age. However, measles vaccination at 9 months of age is recommended by the WHO in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedule and it is therefore possible that MMR or MMRV vaccines might also be given at this age. This open-label, randomised, comparative study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a 2-dose schedule of ProQuad(®) (MMRV vaccine) given at a 3-month interval in healthy infants aged ≥9 months.

Oval window transport of Gd-dOTA from rat middle ear to vestibulum and scala vestibuli visualized by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: We tested our hypothesis that the oval window (OW) potentially functions as a route to carry substances from the middle ear to the vestibulum and then the scala vestibuli through the annular ligament across the stapediovestibular joint.

Methods: Gd-DOTA was either injected into the lateral attic compartment of rats with a high-performance polyimide tube in a selective OW delivery group, or administered to the middle ear cavity of two groups of rats in which the OW was either sealed or not sealed. The dynamic uptake of Gd-DOTA in the inner ear was visualized with a 4.

Immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of a mammalian cell-culture-derived influenza vaccine in healthy children and adolescents three to seventeen years of age.

Background: The safety and immunogenicity of the cell-culture-derived seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine ([CCIV]; Optaflu) has been reported previously in adults and the elderly. In this study, we compared the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of CCIV with a conventional egg-derived trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in a healthy pediatric population.

Methods: A total of 3604 subjects were randomized to receive 2 doses of CCIV or TIV (3-8 years, n = 2630) at a 28-day interval or a single vaccination (9-17 years, n = 974).

Simultaneous presence of human herpesvirus 6 and adenovirus infections in intestinal intussusception of young children.

Aim: This prospective study investigated the role of viral infections in the pathogenesis of intussusception, including human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a known lymphotropic virus.

Methods: Fifty-three children with intussusception treated in hospital were enroled, and children of comparable age and gender served as controls. Blood, stool and throat swab specimens, as well as mesenteric lymph nodes and pieces of intestine from patients requiring surgery were tested for various viruses by PCR methods.

Recurrent congenital fibrosarcoma with heart metastases.

Congenital fibrosarcomas are malignant tumors that arise in soft tissues. In infants this unique tumor does not commonly metastasize, even though there may be local recurrences. We report here a boy who had congenital fibrosarcoma in his right foot, which was completely excised at the age of 3 days.

Safety and immunogenicity of an MF59(®)-adjuvanted A/H5N1 pre-pandemic influenza vaccine in adults and the elderly.

Background: The potential consequences of an avian influenza pandemic warrants the development of safe, highly immunogenic pre-pandemic A/H5N1 vaccines with cross-clade protection. In this randomized, controlled study we compared the immunogenicity and safety of an MF59(®)-adjuvanted (Novartis Vaccines, Marburg, Germany) A/H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine with that of a licensed, MF59-adjuvanted, seasonal influenza vaccine.

Methods: Healthy adult (18-60 years, n=3372) and elderly (≥61 years, n=275) volunteers received either an initial dose of a licensed, non-adjuvanted, trivalent, seasonal influenza vaccine (Agrippal(®)) on Day 1, followed by one dose of MF59-H5N1 study vaccine on Day 22 and a second dose of MF59-H5N1 on Day 43, or alternatively, placebo on Day 1 followed by one dose of MF59-adjuvanted seasonal reference vaccine on Day 22 and a second dose of reference vaccine on Day 43.

A comparison of immunogenicity of norovirus GII-4 virus-like particles and P-particles.

Norovirus (NoV) -derived virus-like particles (VLPs) resemble empty shells of the virus and NoV P-particles contain only protruding domains of the NoV capsid. Both NoV-derived subviral particles show similar functionality and antigenicity in vitro and are considered to be potential vaccine candidates against NoV gastroenteritis. BALB/c mice were immunized with baculovirus-produced GII-4 VLPs or the corresponding Escherichia coli-produced P-particles by the intramuscular or intradermal route and the NoV-specific antibody and T-cell immune responses were compared.

Oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant with influenza vaccine in young children.

Background: The efficacy of inactivated influenza vaccines is known to be poor in infants and young children.

Methods: We studied the effect of the adjuvant MF59, an oil-in-water emulsion, on the efficacy of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in 4707 healthy children 6 to less than 72 months of age who had not previously been vaccinated against influenza. The children were randomly assigned to three study groups, each of which received the assigned vaccines in two doses, 28 days apart, during two consecutive influenza seasons.

Mid-upper arm circumference and weight-for-height to identify high-risk malnourished under-five children.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF define non-oedematous severe acute malnutrition (SAM) either by a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 115 mm or by a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) less than -3. The objective of this study was to assess whether there was any benefit to identify malnourished children with a high risk of death to combine these two diagnostic criteria. Data of a longitudinal study examining the relationship between anthropometry and mortality in rural Senegal and predating the development of community-based management of SAM were used for this study.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia in Tampere University Hospital: a case-control study, Finland October 2002 to January 2010.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a frequent pathogen in blood cultures in Pirkanmaa Hospital District (HD), Finland. To study risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia and the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial treatment, we retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 102 patients, 51 with MRSA, and 51 with meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteraemias respectively, who had been admitted to Tampere University Hospital in Pirkanmaa HD, from October 2002 to January 2010. For each patient with MRSA bacteraemia, one consecutively detected unmatched patient with MSSA bacteraemia was chosen as control.

Nanoparticle-based delivery for the treatment of inner ear disorders.

Purpose Of Review: The delivery of targetable synthetic vectors that can carry a variety of drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids, such as DNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA), to mammalian cells is important as a potential therapeutic system that avoids the problems that are associated with viruses.

Recent Findings: The so-called multifunctional nanocarriers that are equipped with several functions, such as targetability, shelter from the immune system, and opsonization, and are capable of delivering payload across the nuclear envelope, have been synthesized. To improve transfection efficiency, a group of novel peptides have been attached to the surface of the carrier that will enhance endosomal escape and promote nuclear entry.

Norovirus VLPs and rotavirus VP6 protein as combined vaccine for childhood gastroenteritis.

Noroviruses (NoVs) and rotaviruses (RVs) are the two most important viral causes of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. Live oral RV vaccines are already part of routine childhood immunization in many countries, but may be associated with low risk of intussusception and other potential risks associated with live vaccines. NoV capsid-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) are in early phase clinical trials, but there is no vaccine available yet.

Target weight gain for moderately wasted children during supplementation interventions--a population-based approach.

Objective: In malnourished populations, the weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) distribution is shifted to the left. The aim of nutrition interventions should be to restore a normal WHZ distribution for the whole population. The present paper examines the WHZ change needed by each individual to achieve this objective.

Nucleolar proteins with altered expression in leukemic cell lines.

The function of the nucleolus is intimately connected to cell proliferation, division and growth. Many cancer cells have enlarged nucleoli, and several nucleolar proteins have been linked to tumorigenesis. In order to find proteins whose expression is altered in the nucleoli of leukemic cells, we carried out two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) analyses.

Noroviruses as a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children in Finland, 2009-2010.

Noroviruses are, after rotaviruses, the second most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children. In a prospective study conducted in 2009-2010 at the Tampere University Hospital, 195 stool specimens were collected from cases of acute gastroenteritis in children and examined for noroviruses, sapoviruses, and rotaviruses, using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Noroviruses were found in 49 (25%) of the cases and sapoviruses in 12 (6%).

Safety and immunogenicity of a modified process hepatitis B vaccine in healthy infants.

Background: A modified process hepatitis B vaccine (mpHBV) uses higher phosphate content in the manufacturing process relative to the current product, Recombivax-HB. The higher phosphate is thought to improve antigen presentation, and thereby, increase antibody production. The mpHBV was previously shown to be well tolerated and immunogenic in adults.

Immunogenicity of 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae Protein D Conjugate Vaccine when administered as catch-up vaccination to children 7 months to 5 years of age.

Background: We evaluated catch-up vaccination schedules with 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Protein D Conjugate Vaccine (PHiD-CV).

Methods: In this open, controlled study, children stratified into 4 age groups (N = 150 each) were vaccinated with PHiD-CV: (a) <6 months reference group: 3 primary doses with booster at 12 to 15 months, (b) 7 to 11 months: 2 doses and booster at 12 to 15 months, (c) 12 to 23 months: 2 doses, and (d) 2 to 5 years: 1 dose. Serotype-specific pneumococcal responses were measured by 22F-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) assay.

Size matters: versatile use of PiggyBac transposons as a genetic manipulation tool.

Transposons have been promising elements for gene integration, and the Sleeping Beauty (SB) system has been the major one for many years, although there have been several other transposon systems available, for example, Tol2. However, recently another system known as PiggyBac (PB) has been introduced and developed for fulfilling the same purposes, for example, mutagenesis, transgenesis and gene therapy and in some cases with improved transposition efficiency and advantages over the Sleeping Beauty transposon system, although improved hyperactive transposase has highly increased the transposition efficacy for SB. The PB systems have been used in many different scientific research fields; therefore, the purpose of this review is to describe some of these versatile uses of the PiggyBac system to give readers an overview on the usage of PiggyBac system.

Balloon dilation of the cartilaginous eustachian tube.

Objectives: (1) To translate techniques developed in a previous cadaver study of balloon dilation of the cartilaginous eustachian tube (ET) into clinical treatment for refractory dilatory dysfunction and (2) to study the safety/efficacy of the technique in a pilot clinical trial.

Study Design: Prospective with subjects as their own historical controls since June 2009.

Setting: Regional academic center.

Norovirus genotypes in endemic acute gastroenteritis of infants and children in Finland between 1994 and 2007.

Noroviruses are, after rotaviruses, the second most common causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children. We studied norovirus genotypes in faecal specimens collected from Finnish children followed-up prospectively in rotavirus vaccine trials. Almost 5000 faecal specimens collected from cases of acute gastroenteritis were examined using reverse transcriptase-PCR.

Noroviruses in children seen in a hospital for acute gastroenteritis in Finland.

Unlabelled: Noroviruses (NoVs) are second only to rotaviruses (RVs) as causative agents of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. The proportional role of NoVs is likely to increase after control of RV by vaccination. We investigated NoVs in children seen in Tampere University Hospital either treated as outpatients or hospitalized because of AGE before universal RV vaccination was implemented in Finland.

Tetravalent meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y conjugate vaccine is well tolerated and immunogenic when co-administered with measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine during the second year of life: An open, randomized controlled trial.

Co-administration of meningococcal ACWY-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (ACWY-TT) with MMRV vaccine was investigated in 1000 12-23-month old children randomized (3:3:1:1) to receive co-administered ACWY-TT+MMRV, or a single dose of ACWY-TT, MMRV or MenC-CRM(197). Non-inferiority of ACWY-TT to MenC-CRM(197) and non-inferiority of ACWY-TT+MMRV to ACWY-TT and MMRV alone, and the immunogenicity of serogroups AWY were demonstrated according to pre-defined criteria. Fever reactions in ACWY+MMRV and MMRV groups were comparable.

Norovirus GII-4 causes a more severe gastroenteritis than other noroviruses in young children.

Norovirus (NoV) GII-4 has emerged as the predominant NoV genotype in outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide. We determined clinical features of NoV GII-4 associated acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in comparison with AGE associated with other NoV types in infants during seasons 2001 and 2002. During the prospective follow-up period, 128 primary infections of AGE due to NoV were identified in 405 infants; of these, GII-4 was found in 40 cases (31%).

Results from a randomized clinical trial of coadministration of RotaTeq, a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine, and NeisVac-C, a meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine.

RotaTeq (Merck & Co. Inc./Sanofi Pasteur MSD) is a three-dose, oral pentavalent rotavirus vaccine for the immunization of infants from 6 weeks of age for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis.