Status of group B streptococcal vaccine development

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is a leading causal organism of neonatal invasive diseases and severe infections in the elderly. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of GBS infections and improvement in personal hygiene standards, this pathogen is still a global health concern. Thus, an effective vaccine against GBS would augment existing strategies to substantially decrease GBS infection. In 2014, World Health Organization convened the first meeting for consultation on GBS vaccine development, focusing on the GBS maternal immunization program, which was aimed at reducing infections in neonates and young infants worldwide. Here, we review the history of GBS infections, the current vaccine candidates, and the current status of immunogenicity assays used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of GBS vaccines.

Antifungal effects of synthetic human β-defensin 3-C15 peptide

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the antifungal activity of a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus of human β-defensin 3 (HBD3-C15) with calcium hydroxide (CH) and Nystatin (Nys) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C. albicans were grown on cover glass bottom dishes or human dentin disks for 48 hr, and then treated with HBD3-C15 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 µg/mL), CH (100 µg/mL), and Nys (20 µg/mL) for 7 days at 37℃. On cover glass, live and dead cells in the biomass were measured by the FilmTracer Biofilm viability assay, and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). On dentin, normal, diminished and ruptured cells were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results were subjected to a two-tailed t-test, a one way analysis variance and a post hoc test at a significance level of p = 0.05. RESULTS: C. albicans survival on dentin was inhibited by HBD3-C15 in a dose-dependent manner. There were fewer aggregations of C. albicans in the groups of Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL). CLSM showed C. albicans survival was reduced by HBD3-C15 in a dose dependent manner. Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL) showed significant fungicidal activity compared to CH group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic HBD3-C15 peptide (≥ 100 µg/mL) and Nys exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity than CH against C. albicans by inhibiting cell survival and biofilm.

Usefulness of insulin - like growth factors in predicting reduced bone mass in natural postmenopausal women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

No abstract available.

A Case of Cervical Pregnancy treated by Intraamniotic Injection of Methotrexate Guided by Transabdominal Ultrasonography / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic gestation and it can cause serious bleeding, shock and death. Although hysterectomies are still performed due to massive hemorrhages, there are some conservative approaches to cervical pregnancies to conserve fertility. Methotrexate is a very useful agent in the management of trophoblastic disease, and has been utilized recently for the successful management of tubal, interstitial, and cervical ectopic gestations. We report a case of viable cervical pregnancy treated successfully with intraamniotic injection of methotrexate guided by transabdominal ultrasonography.

Two Cases of Hyperemesis Gravidarum Managed by Enteral Feeding via Nasogastric Tube / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Traditionally, total parenteral nutrition(TPN) has been used when patients with hypaemesis gravidarum failed to respond to conservative management, but now many physicians attempt to enteral feeding via nasogastric tube because TPN is expensive and has many complications. Recently, we experienced 2 cases of hyperemesis gravidarum successfully managed by enteral feeding via nasogastric tube, therefore we think that this method may be carefully considered to the patients with hyperemesis gravidarum failed to respond to conservative management. So we report them with brief review of the literatures.

A Case of Pregnancy-Associated Aplastic Anemia / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Pregnancy-associated aplastic anemia is an uncommon problem and conditions in which an acellular or markedly hypocellular bone marrow results in pancytopenia(anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia). In most cases, aplastic anemia and pregnancy appear to have been a chance association. We experienced one case of pregnacy-associated aplastic anemia and so we present it with brief review of literature.