scholarly journals Early Revelation of Leprosy in China by Sequential Antibody Analyses with LID-1 and PGL-I

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Qiong-Hua ◽  
Zheng Zhong-Yi ◽  
Yang Jun ◽  
Wen Yan ◽  
Yuan Lian-Chao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Examination ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
West China ◽  
Insidious Onset ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Physical Examinations

Leprosy is a disabling chronic infection, with insidious onset that often evades early detection. In order to detect new leprosy cases in a timely manner, we conducted surveillance visits in some difficult-to-reach mountain areas in South West China where the disease is still prevalent. Our data confirm that Chinese multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients have strong antibody responses againstMycobacterium lepraeantigens ND-O-BSA and LID-1. Contacts of clinically diagnosed patients were then monitored at regular intervals by both physical examinations and the laboratory determination of antibody responses in sera collected during these examinations. Elevations in antibody titers indicated the onset of MB leprosy in one of the contacts, and diagnosis was subsequently confirmed on physical examination. Our data indicate that rising antibody titers can be used as a trigger for physical examination or increased monitoring of particular individuals in order to provide early leprosy diagnosis.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Antibody Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines among Solid Tumor and Hematologic Patients

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4312
Author(s):  
Josef Singer ◽  
Nguyen-Son Le ◽  
Daniel Mattes ◽  
Valerie Klamminger ◽  
Klaus Hackner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Tumor ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Vulnerable Patients ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Vaccination is the primary public health strategy to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although solid tumor and hematologic patients are at higher risk of serious COVID-19-related complications, data on immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in this patient cohort are particularly scarce. The present study, therefore, aimed at the standardized determination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titers among non-vaccinated versus vaccinated solid tumor and hematologic patients who are under clinical observation or under treatment at the University Hospital Krems. Standardized anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody titers of a total of 441 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Our results show that antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are significantly higher in solid tumor versus hematologic patients. While SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were equal among sexes, an age-dependent decrease was observed. Of note, our studies additionally show that complete vaccination represents a valuable predictor for high anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in solid tumor and hematologic patients. In summary, to date, this is one of the largest studies to comprehensively evaluate the impact of various COVID-19 vaccines on anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody production in solid tumor and hematologic patients. Our findings aim to support future vaccination strategies in these highly vulnerable patients, including vaccination booster programs and alternative protective approaches.

scholarly journals Microscopic Analysis of Bacterial Inoculum Effect Using Micropatterned Biochip

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 300
Author(s):  
Jung Ho Hwang ◽  
Sang Young Lee ◽  
Jungil Choi
Keyword(s):  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Microfluidic System ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Testing Conditions ◽  
Bacterial Inoculum ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Inoculum Effect

Antimicrobial resistance has become a major problem in public health and clinical environments. Against this background, antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) has become necessary to cure diseases in an appropriate and timely manner as it indicates the necessary concentration of antibiotics. Recently, microfluidic based rapid AST methods using microscopic analysis have been shown to reduce the time needed for the determination of the proper antibiotics. However, owing to the inoculum effect, the accurate measurement of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is difficult. We tested four standard bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis, against five different antibiotics: piperacillin, cefotaxime, amikacin, levofloxacin, and ampicillin. The results showed that overall, the microfluidic system has a similar inoculum effect compared to the conventional AST method. However, due to the different testing conditions and determination protocols of the growth of the microfluidic based rapid AST, a few results are not identical to the conventional methods using optical density. This result suggests that microfluidic based rapid AST methods require further research on the inoculum effect for practical use in hospitals and can then be used for effective antibiotic prescriptions.

Evaluation of Two Tetravalent (ACYW135) Meningococcal Vaccines in Infants and Small Children: A Clinical Study Comparing Immunogenicity of O-Acetyl-Negative and O-Acetyl-Positive Group C Polysaccharides

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Heikki Peltola ◽  
Assad Safary ◽  
Helena Käyhty ◽  
Viena Karanko ◽  
Francis E. André
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Study ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Meningococcal Vaccine ◽  
Small Children ◽  
Positive Group ◽  
Systemic Reactions ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Group A

Two different tetravalent polysaccharide vaccines against group A, C, Y, and W135 meningococci were given to 118 infants aged 6 to 23 months; the same vaccines were administered in a second dose 12 months later to those infants aged 6 to 11 months at first vaccination. Forty of the infants received vaccine containing the nonacetylated group C polysaccharide C(OAc-) and 78 the acetylated group C polysaccharide C(OAc+) together with group A, Y, and W135 polysaccharides. All polysaccharides, at a dose of 30 µg, induced antibody responses after administration of both vaccines in all age groups although the responses were better in the older infants. Acetylation of the sialic acid of the group C polysaccharide did not significantly influence the response. Rapid decreases in the antibody titers after the first vaccination stressed the need for one or more revaccinations. Vaccination elicited mild local and systemic reactions. Elevated temperatures were more common in the youngest infants but only four developed fever exceeding 38.5°C (101.3°F). We conclude that tetravalent (ACYW135) meningococcal vaccine is safe and immunologically effective in children younger than age 2 years. However, revaccinations may be required to maintain immunity.

Physically III and Mentally III

1986 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Johnson ◽  
Jambur Ananth
Keyword(s):  
Physical Examination ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Physical Examinations ◽  
Atypical Presentations ◽  
Do So

Undetected physical illnesses in psychiatric patients are common. Why do so many physical illnesses go undetected? These disorders are difficult to detect and need an elaborate consultatory process. Some of the problems may be related to the fact that psychiatrists do not do physical examinations. Clues suggesting an organic etiology may be attributed to psychodynamic issues by many physicians. In this paper, seven case reports are presented to illustrate the following: perform your own physical examination; do not attribute physical signs to dynamic issues; all physical signs should be explained; be alert to atypical presentations; conduct relevant laboratory workup; avoid bias against unattractive patients; and pose specific questions to consultants.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Immunization with Multiple Diverse Immunogens Alters Development of Antigen-Specific Antibody-Mediated Immunity

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 964
Author(s):  
Kelsey A. Pilewski ◽  
Kevin J. Kramer ◽  
Ivelin S. Georgiev
Keyword(s):  
Specific Antibody ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Neisseria Meningitides ◽  
Immunization Strategies ◽  
Single Antigen ◽  
The Face ◽  
Antibody Titers

Vaccination remains one of the most successful medical interventions in history, significantly decreasing morbidity and mortality associated with, or even eradicating, numerous infectious diseases. Although traditional immunization strategies have recently proven insufficient in the face of many highly mutable and emerging pathogens, modern strategies aim to rationally engineer a single antigen or cocktail of antigens to generate a focused, protective immune response. However, the effect of cocktail vaccination (simultaneous immunization with multiple immunogens) on the antibody response to each individual antigen within the combination, remains largely unstudied. To investigate whether immunization with a cocktail of diverse antigens would result in decreased antibody titer against each unique antigen in the cocktail compared to immunization with each antigen alone, we immunized mice with surface proteins from uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Neisseria meningitides, and monitored the development of antigen-specific IgG antibody responses. We found that antigen-specific endpoint antibody titers were comparable across immunization groups by study conclusion (day 70). Further, we discovered that although cocktail-immunized mice initially elicited more robust antibody responses, the rate of titer development decreases significantly over time compared to single antigen-immunized mice. Investigating the basic properties that govern the development of antigen-specific antibody responses will help inform the design of future combination immunization regimens.

scholarly journals Income Tax Disputes Involving Loss Years: Pitfalls, Foibles, and Possible Reforms

2019 ◽  
pp. 499-531
Author(s):  
Michael H. Lubetsky
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Tax Court ◽  
Tax Loss

Tax disputes involving losses can be challenging to resolve owing to two longstanding principles, commonly known as "the nil assessment rule" and "the <i>New St James</i> principle." The nil assessment rule bars taxpayers from objecting to assessments that result in no tax being payable--including both loss years and profitable years where income is completely offset by carryovers. The <i>New St James</i> principle provides, essentially, that loss years or years with no tax payable never become statute-barred. Because the nil assessment rule and the <i>New St James</i> principle can prevent the resolution of disputes over tax loss balances in a timely manner, Parliament amended the Income Tax Act in 1977 so as to allow, in certain situations, for the issuance by the minister of national revenue of a notice of determination of losses (NODL) for a given taxation year. Once issued, a NODL can be objected to or appealed in basically the same manner as an assessment and, subject to any objection or appeal, becomes binding upon the minister and the taxpayer. However, the existence of a parallel but distinct system for resolving loss disputes leaves gaps that result in a range of procedural traps for taxpayers. Taxpayers caught in these traps can potentially end up losing their rights to object to or appeal disputed income adjustments, reviving statute-barred issues, or being required to pay arrears interest on extinguished tax debts. This article explores some of these traps, showing how they arise and what a taxpayer might do to avoid being caught by them. It also discusses whether the time has come to reform the nil assessment rule and/or the <i>New St James</i> principle so as to allow disputes involving losses to be resolved more readily by the Tax Court of Canada, and proposes several possible reforms.

scholarly journals Can we predict antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2? A cohort analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Gaeddert ◽  
Philip Kitchen ◽  
Tobias Broger ◽  
Stefan Weber ◽  
Ralf Bartenschlager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
High Antibody ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Median Increase ◽  
Antibody Titers

AbstractBackgroundAfter infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and virus-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) develop. This study describes antibody responses in a cohort of recovered COVID-19 patients to identify predictors.MethodsWe recruited patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from Heidelberg, Germany. Blood samples were collected three weeks after COVID-19 symptoms ended. Participants with high antibody titers were invited for follow-up visits. IgG titers were measured by the Euroimmun Assay, and nAbs titers in a SARS-CoV-2 infection-based assay.Results281 participants were enrolled between April and August 2020 with IgG testing, 145 (51.6%) had nAbs, and 35 (12.5%) had follow-up. The median IgG optical density (OD) ratio was 3.1 (Interquartile range (IQR) 1.6-5.1), and 24.1% (35/145) had a nAb titer>1:80. Higher IgG titers were associated with increased age and more severe disease, and higher nAbs were associated with male gender and CT-value of 25-30 on RT-PCR at diagnosis. The median IgG OD ratio on follow-up was 3.7 (IQR 2.9-5.9), a median increase of 0.5 (IQR −0.3-1.7). Six participants with follow-up nAbs all had titers ≤ 1:80.ConclusionsWhile age and disease severity were correlated with IgG responses, predictive factors for nAbs in convalescent patients remain unclear.

scholarly journals Annual physical health checks within a forensic inpatient service

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S72-S72
Author(s):  
Michael Cooper ◽  
Partha Gangopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Local System ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Checks ◽  
Blood Monitoring ◽  
Physical Examinations

AimsPatients prescribed antipsychotics are at risk of ill effects to their physical health. Our aims were to assess whether inpatients within a forensic service, on antipsychotic medications, were receiving annual physical health monitoring in accordance with current NICE and SIGN Guidelines. Based on these Guidelines the following objectives were identified: 1: Physical examination, BMI and blood pressure recorded within the past year2: FBC recorded within the past year3: U&Es recorded within past year4: LFTs recorded within the past year5: HbA1C / random glucose / fasting glucose recorded within the past year6: Random lipids / fasting lipids recorded within the past yearMethodInclusion Criteria: Patients admitted for longer than a year currently prescribed an antipsychotic.Data were collected cross-sectionally on 24/7/20 for all inpatients meeting the inclusion criteria. Medical notes and the blood results system were reviewed for results of any annual physical examinations and blood monitoring over the past year.Anonymized data were analysed using Excel.Result13 out of 17 inpatients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these 13 inpatients, 9 (69.2%) were prescribed clozapine, 1 (7.7%) zuclopenthixol, 1 (7.7%) paliperidone and 1 (7.7%) amisulpride.All patients had BMI and blood pressures recorded within the preceding month. Only 1 patient (7.7%) had an annual physical health examination within the past year.Findings for bloods taken within the past year were as follows:12 patients (92.3%) had an FBC recorded9 patients (69.2%) had U + Es recorded9 patients (69.2%) had LFTs recorded11 patients (84.6%) had HBA1c recorded7 patients (53.8%) had lipids recordedConclusionThere is scope for improvement with both annual physical examinations and blood monitoring.All patients had regular BMIs and blood pressure recorded which is largely attributable to nursing staff protocols. Low compliance with full annual physical examination could be explained by there being no local system in place for annual physical health checks and also frequent changes in junior doctor ward cover.Blood monitoring showed variable compliance with established standards. FBC monitoring had the best compliance, likely because the vast majority of our patients are prescribed clozapine, which necessitates minimal monthly FBC monitoring.This audit was presented to the Forensic Team and thereafter it was agreed for a local system to be put in place for annual physical health checks in the summer each year. This will improve oportunities to optimise our patients health. We plan to re-audit at this time.

scholarly journals Study on the Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Homocysteine in the Physical Examination Population

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Bao ◽  
Ming Cui ◽  
Xiuying Shi ◽  
Shaoqing Ju ◽  
Hui Cong
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) is considered to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. No study has evaluated the distribution of Hcy on a large-scale health examination. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the level and distribution of Hcy in the healthy physical examination population and the correlation with other biomarkers, and analyzed for cardiovascular and other diseases. The prevention provides an important scientific basis.Methods: From February 2017 to April 2020, 8063 medical examination populations were selected for analysis. Determination of serum Hcy, TC, TG, LDL-c, HDL-c, ALT, ALP, γ-GT, TBIL, GLU, urea, Cr, UA and related metabolic risk factors. According to the multivariate regression model of age, gender, smoking, drinking, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the relationship between Hcy and other biochemical indicators was evaluated. Results: Among 8063 cases, the age, BMI, SBP and DBP of the high-Hcy group were higher than those of the low-Hcy group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the proportion of males, smoking and drinking were higher than the low In the Hcy group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the ALT, ALP, γ-GT, TBIL, Urea, Cr, UA, and TG in the high Hcy group were higher than those in the low Hcy group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05 ); HDL-c in the high-Hcy group was lower than that in the low-Hcy group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in TC, LDL-c, and GLU between the high- and low-Hcy groups (P>0.05). In multivariate analysis, lnHDL-C was negatively correlated with lnHcy (β=-0.038, SE=0.016, P<0.05), lnCr was positively correlated with lnHcy (β=0.055, SE=0.016, P<0.05), lnUA and lnHcy were positive correlation (β=0.043, SE=0.019, P<0.05). Conclusion: Hcy is closely related to HDL-c, Cr and UA, which indicates that Hcy may affect the metabolism of HDL-c and UA, and can also be used as an auxiliary diagnostic index for kidney injury.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document