Abstract
Influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory infections known to cause global morbidity and mortality, despite the widespread use of multiple influenza vaccines. Current influenza ...vaccines target the hemagglutinin (HA) envelope protein responsible for the attachment and entry of influenza into host cells. However, high mutation rates during influenza replication lead to mutations that cause the HA protein to be unrecognizable by host antibodies, increasing levels of infection within both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. A promising approach to circumvent this problem is through the use of a slow release delivery platform which has been previously shown to induce the longevity of germinal center reactions, allowing for the generation of higher affinity antibodies and more evolved B cells. Here we show that vaccination with the slow-delivery platform, Vaccine Self-Assembling Immune Matrix (VacSIM), in combination with recombinant HA antigens, increases antibody titers against H1 and H3 HAs in vaccinated groups of mice. When mice immunized with VacSIM/H1 HA were challenged with a lethal H1N1 dose, a 25% increase in survival was seen compared to the non-VacSIM group and 100% increase against mock immunized. Similarly, when immunized with VacSIM/H3 HA and challenged with H3N2, a 1.8 log reduction in lung viral titers was seen. Further analysis of the vaccine-elicited antibodies showed that vaccination with VacSIM and HA increases HAI activity against multiple strains of influenza within both H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. We anticipate that use of VacSIM will provide further insight into how consistent exposure through a slow delivery platform can shape the host immune response to increase protection against influenza infection.
Supported by grants from CIVIC
Abstract Young NL, Gilbert TK, McCormick A, Ayling-Campos A, Boydell K, Law M, Fehlings DL, Mukherjee S, Wedge JH, Williams JI. Youth and young adults with cerebral palsy: their use of physician and ...hospital services. Objectives To examine patterns of health care utilization among youth and young adults who have cerebral palsy (CP) and to provide information to guide the development of health services for adults who have CP. Design This study analyzed health insurance data for outpatient physician visits and hospital admissions for a 4-year period. Setting Six children’s treatment centers in Ontario, Canada. Participants The sample included 587 youth and 477 adults with CP identified from health records. Youths were 13 to 17 years of age, and adults were 23 to 32 years of age at the end of the data range. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures We computed the annual rates of outpatient physician visits and hospitalizations per 1000 persons and compared these with rates for the general population. Results Annual rates of outpatient physician visits were 6052 for youth and 6404 for adults with CP, 2.2 times and 1.9 times higher, respectively, than rates for age-matched peers ( P <.01). Specialists provided 28.4% of youth visits but only 18.8% of adult visits. Annual hospital admission rates were 180 for youth and 98 for adults with CP, 4.3 times and 10.6 times higher, respectively, than rates for age-matched peers ( P <.01). Conclusions It appears that youth and adults with CP continue to have complex care needs and rely heavily on the health care system. Comprehensive services are essential to support their health as they move into youth and adulthood. However, there appear to be gaps in the adult health care system, such as limited access to specialist physicians.
Objectives: To enhance the confidence of children and adolescents with medical conditions and disabilities to engage in healthy, active lifestyles. Children with medical conditions and disabilities ...often exhibit more sedentary lifestyles relative to peers and are at increased risk of poor health outcomes. Clinical experience suggests physical activity confidence is an important factor influencing physical activity participation.Methods: This randomized controlled trial evaluates an evidence-based intervention targeting physical activity confidence among children and adolescents with medical conditions and disabilities. Potential participants, 8 to 18 years of age diagnosed with a medical condition or disability, will be screened for adequate physical activity motivation but a lack confidence. Consenting participants (n=128) will be randomized 1:1 to a 12-week in-person or virtual physical activity intervention (24 hours/week total) led by a Registered Kinesiologist or control (assessments only). The intervention will combine physical activity participation with education about physical activity knowledge, goal setting, motivation and self-management. Primary outcomes are self-reported physical activity confidence and motivation at baseline, post-intervention and three months following intervention completion. A secondary outcome will be daily physical activity minutes assessed by accelerometry. A repeated measures mixed model will be used to compare outcomes between the in-person intervention, virtual intervention, and control groups (alpha=0.05).Conclusions: This trial aims to assess the impact of a novel application of behaviour change theory on physical activity confidence among children and adolescents living with medical conditions or disabilities. Increased physical activity confidence, knowledge and skills could enable these youth to lead a more active lifestyle.
Although the literature on educators studying abroad points to the importance of community and other non-classroom interactions, no study has examined how a homestay specifically might contribute to ...the development of educators while abroad. In this article we discuss how perceived gains in Spanish proficiency, as well as increased orientation to cultural difference as measured by the Intercultural Development Inventory, were attributed to the homestay experience by preservice teachers studying in Cusco, Peru. Findings illuminate how homestays can play a positive role in educator development by providing linguistic and cultural scaffolds, as well as increased empathy for language learners.
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