The rat liver adhesion molecule cell CAM 105 has been postulated to be involved in liver histogenesis. Recently, it was shown to exist in two isoforms that differ in the length of their cytoplasmic ...domains (O. Culic, Q-H. Huang, D. Flanagan, D. C. Hixson, and S. H. Lin, Biochem. J., 285: 47-53, 1992). Isoform-specific differences in phosphorylation and aggregation function have been observed. To study the possible roles of these isoforms during liver development, we have used both complementary DNA probes and isoform-specific antibodies to examine their temporal and spatial expression. Northern blot analysis revealed low steady-state levels of a 4.0-kilobase RNA at 15-20 days gestation, which increased dramatically at birth and remained at least 12-fold higher than fetal levels in neonatal and adult liver. Additional polyadenylated RNA species of 6.0 and 2.9 kilobases were detected after birth. Steady-state levels of cell CAM 105 RNA in cultured adult and fetal hepatocytes were comparable to in vivo levels, respectively, and were not influenced by treatment with transforming growth factor beta or by culture density. Increases in cell CAM 105 protein demonstrated by immunoblot analysis correlated with the RNA increases, suggesting that regulation of cell CAM 105 expression is largely transcriptional during development. Ratios of the long and short isoforms remained relatively constant after birth. Isoform-specific antipeptide antibodies localized both isoforms primarily to maturing bile canalicular domains of hepatocytes during liver development. The long isoform could not be detected in fetal liver in situ prior to 20 days, however, suggesting that specific roles may exist for these molecules during development.
This annual report, the third in the series, documents trends in immunisation coverage in NSW for children, adolescents and the elderly, to the end of 2011.
Data from the Australian Childhood ...Immunisation Register, the NSW School Immunisation Program and the NSW Population Health Survey were used to calculate various measures of population coverage.
During 2011, greater than 90% coverage was maintained for children at 12 and 24 months of age. For children at 5 years of age the improvement seen in 2010 was sustained, with coverage at or near 90%. For adolescents, there was improved coverage for all doses of human papillomavirus vaccine, both doses of hepatitis B vaccine, varicella vaccine and the dose of diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis given to school attendees in Years 7 and 10. Pneumococcal vaccination coverage in the elderly has been steadily rising, although it has remained lower than the influenza coverage estimates.
This report provides trends in immunisation coverage in NSW across the age spectrum. The inclusion of coverage estimates for the pneumococcal conjugate, varicella and meningococcal C vaccines in the official coverage assessments for 'fully immunised' in 2013 is a welcome initiative.
This annual report, the second in the series, documents trends in immunisation coverage in NSW for children, adolescents and the elderly, to the end of 2010.
Data from the Australian Childhood ...Immunisation Register, the NSW School Immunisation Program and the NSW Population Health Survey were used to calculate various measures of population coverage, coverage for Aboriginal children and vaccination timeliness for all children.
Over 90% coverage has been reached for children at 12 and 24 months of age. For children at 5 years of age there was an improvement during 2010 in timeliness for vaccines due at 4 years and coverage almost reached 90%. Delayed receipt of vaccines is still an issue for Aboriginal children. For adolescents, there is good coverage for the first and second doses of human papillomavirus vaccine and the dose of diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis. The pneumococcal vaccination rate in the elderly has been steadily rising, although it has remained lower than the influenza coverage estimates.
Completion of the recommended immunisation schedule at the earliest appropriate age should be the next public health goal at both the state and local health district level. Official coverage assessments for 'fully immunised' should include the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate and meningococcal C vaccines, and wider dissemination should be considered.
