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In Japan, children are immunized against pertussis (whooping cough) with an acellular vaccine, which is usually given at two years of age. (The acellular vaccine contains a fraction of the whole pertussis component, which contains antigen and thus stimulates an antibody response.) Although the incidence of pertussis in Japan is low, a number of children younger than two years of age develop the disease each year. This study examined if younger children could be given the vaccine safely and if it would provide adequate protection against pertussis. The Takeda acellular pertussis vaccine was given to infants and children who had no prior history of pertussis vaccination or the disease itself. The children were monitored for any side effects, and the effectiveness of vaccination was evaluated by testing for antibody production. The children were categorized by age: 139 infants aged 3 to 8 months, 60 infants and children aged 9 to 23 months, and 99 children aged 24 to 30 months. A total of four doses were given. Results showed that after the fourth dose, there was a good antibody response toward pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) in all groups. Initial PT antibody levels were 1.4, 1.1, and 1.1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units per milliliter (EU/mL) for the 3- to 8-month group, the 9- to 23-month group, and the 24- to 30-month group, respectively. After the final dose was given, these levels increased to 67.8, 105.4, and 92.9 EU/mL. Between 28 and 38 percent of the vaccinated infants and children experienced minor side effects such as drowsiness or soreness at the injection site, but no major side effects occurred in response to vaccination. These results indicate that children as young as three months of age can safely be given the Takeda acellular pertussis vaccine and that it elicits an effective antibody response. Several tables describe antibody responses, seroconversion and reactions to vaccination. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

The effectiveness of a trivalent vaccine for the prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella (German Measles) was compared with that of individual (monovalent) vaccines against each disease. A combined injection is advantageous both to the clinician and to the patient. The single injection makes scheduling of immunization simpler, reduces the number of visits, and has proven to be safe and effective. Although trivalent vaccine has been used for approximately 10 years within the United States, there have been some reports that this method is less effective than individual inoculations. The present study compares the rate of successful immunization among 1,369 health children inoculated with the trivalent vaccine, and the rate of successful immunization with monovalent vaccine. Before immunization 893 of the 1,369 children failed to demonstrate antibodies against any of the three diseases. Following inoculation 99.7 of the test group developed antibodies against measles and rubella, and 96.3 successfully became immunologically protected against mumps. Few of the children who were inoculated developed low-grade fevers (15.9 percent), and less than 2 percent developed high fever. The rate of successful immunization following trivalent vaccination was similar to that seen following univalent administration. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

A systematic trial of the efficacy of the Takeda acellular vaccine for the prevention of whooping-cough (pertussis) in Japanese children is described. This vaccine does not contain intact cells, but does contain cellular fragments which have been found to spur the development of immunity. In 1947 a vaccine containing whole-cells began to be used in Japan, and by the mid 1970s the disease was well under control. Concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine, and a shift of the normal time of administration from three months of age to two years have led to a marked decrease in pertussis vaccines in recent years. Starting in about 1979, epidemics of considerable size marked by severe problems and death occurred. In 1981 a new vaccine, which did not contain whole cells and was combined with vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus, began to be used in Japan. Epidemic pertussis is again under control in Japan; however, children under the usual age of inoculation (two years of age) remain at two- to threefold risk. The occurrence of pertussis was studied among 62 vaccinated children who were exposed at home and 62 unvaccinated children who were similarly exposed. Fifteen percent of inoculated children become ill following exposure, as compared with 76 percent of the children who did not receive immunization. All of the cases of children who had been immunized were mild and were not distinguishable from other upper respiratory tract infections. The study estimates that vaccination is effective in preventing typical pertussis in 98 percent of children, and is 81 percent effective against all pertussis-like symptoms. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Abstract Background Concern over the potential cardiotoxicity of anti-malarial drugs inducing a prolonged electrocardiographic QT interval has resulted in the almost complete withdrawal from the market of one anti-malarial drug - halofantrine. The effects on the QT interval of four anti-malarial drugs were examined, using the guinea pig heart. Methods The guinea pig heart was isolated, mounted on a Langendorff apparatus, and was then perfused with pyruvate-added Klebs-Henseleit solutions containing graded concentrations of the four agents such as quinidine (0.15 - 1.2 μM), quinine (0.3 - 2.4 μM), halofantrine (0.1 - 2.0 μM) and mefloquine (0.1 - 2.0 μM). The heart rate-corrected QaTc intervals were measured to evaluate drug-induced QT prolongation effects. Results Quinidine, quinine, and halofantrine prolonged the QaTc interval in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no such effect was found with mefloquine. The EC50 values for the QaTc prolongation effects, the concentration that gives a half-maximum effect, were quinidine < quinine ≈ halofantrine. Conclusions In this study, an isolated, perfused guinea pig heart system was constructed to assess the cardiotoxic potential of anti-malarial drugs. This isolated perfused guinea pig heart system could be used to test newly developed anti-malarial drugs for their inherent QT lengthening potential. More information is required on the potential variation in unbound drug concentrations in humans, and their role in cardiotoxicity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate color compatibility of corresponding resin composite shades keyed to Vitapan Classical shade guide (Vita). Method and Materials: Twenty-one shades of 6 commercial resin composites were analyzed. Specimens (n = 5) were made as disks, 11 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick, using cylindrical molds. Specimens were polymerized according to manufacturers' suggestions using a light-curing unit. Data were collected using a spectrophotometer and analyzed using the appropriate color difference metric equations. A total color difference (ΔE*ab) greater than or equal to 3.7 was considered a mismatch. Analysis of variance and Fisher's probable least-squares difference (PLSD) test, intervals for comparison of means were calculated at the .05 level of significance. Results: Mean ΔE*ab values among A2, B2, C2, and opaque A2 shade pairs were 4.4 (1.8), 7.3 (3.2), 5.6 (2.8), and 6.5 (1.8), respectively, while the mean color difference for all the pairs compared was 5.8 (2.8). For A2 shades, ΔL*, Δa*ab, and Δb*ab values ranged by 5.3, 2.3, and 6.7, respectively. Corresponding values for B2 shades ranged by 10.5, 2.2, and 11.5; 7.9, 2.2, and 4.3 for C2 shades; and 7.9, 1.4, and 4.4 for opaque A2 shades. Fisher's PLSD critical intervals for comparing ΔE*ab values among the shades and composite pairs were 0.07 and 0.15, respectively (P < .0001, power 1.00). Conclusion: Overall, poor color compatibility of shade pairs of identical shade designation was recorded. The best color match was recorded for A2 shade pairs, followed by C2, B2, and opaque A2 shade pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]