Protective and vaccine dose-sparing efficacy of Poly I:C-functionalized calcium phosphate nanoparticle adjuvants in inactivated influenza vaccination.

Adjuvants are required to increase the immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccination and enable vaccine dose sparing. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), a toll-like receptor 3 agonist, is a promising adjuvant candidate that can induce cell-mediated immune responses; however, it remains unlicensed owing to its low stability and toxicity. Calcium phosphate (CaP), a biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticle, is widely used in biomedicine for stable and targeted drug delivery. In this study, we developed Poly I:C-functionalized CaP (Poly-CaP) and evaluated its vaccine adjuvant efficacy in vitro and in vivo. A half dose of Poly-CaP nanoparticles showed similar efficacy to a full dose of soluble Poly I:C in stimulating bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages to secrete proinflammatory cytokines and express their activation markers. Immunization with a half dose of inactivated influenza vaccine in the presence of Poly I:C or Poly-CaP adjuvants induced sufficient antigen-specific humoral responses after boost immunization. Immunization with Poly I:C, CaP, or Poly-CaP-adjuvanted with a half dose of influenza vaccine showed comparable protective efficacy against lethal virus infection, with lower weight loss and virus titer than a full dose of influenza vaccine. The Poly-CaP adjuvant was effective in stimulating antigen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation in the lungs. Collectively, our results showed that the Poly-CaP adjuvant enhanced antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity and humoral immune responses with vaccine dose-sparing effects, suggesting its potential as a novel vaccine adjuvant candidate.

An efficacy study on improving balance and gait in subacute stroke patients by balance training with additional motor imagery: a pilot study.

[Purpose] The few studies conducted on subacute stroke patients have focused only on gait function improvement. This study therefore aimed to confirm the effect of balance training with additional motor imagery on balance and gait improvement in subacute stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were divided into an experimental or control group. The experimental group received balance training for 20 minutes/day with mental imagery for 10 minutes/day, three days/week, for four weeks. The control group received only balance training for 30 minutes. Before and after the 12 sessions, balance and gait ability were assessed by the researcher and a physical therapist. [Results] After completion of the 4-week intervention, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test, and Four Square Step test scores significantly increased in the experimental group. In the control group, Berg Balance Scale and Functional Reach Test scores significantly improved. Changes in the Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test, and Four Square Step Test scores after intervention were significantly higher in the experimental than in the control group. [Conclusion] Specific balance training with additional motor imagery may result in better rehabilitation outcomes of gait and balance ability than balance training alone.

The effect of coffee consumption on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus endemic area.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Coffee consumption is inversely related to the risk of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the protective effect of coffee drinking against the risk of HCC was not established in HBV-prevalent region. To elucidate the relationship between lifetime coffee consumption and the risk of HCC development under the consideration of replication status of HBV. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was performed in 1364 subjects. A total of 258 HCC patients, 480 health-check examinees (control 1, HCE) and 626 patients with chronic liver disease other than HCC (control 2, CLD) were interviewed on smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking using a standardized questionnaire. HBV e-antigen (HBeAg) status and serum HBV DNA levels were measured in patients infected with HBV. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, gender, obesity, DM, presence of hepatitis virus (except for HCE) and lifetime alcohol drinking/smoking, a high lifetime coffee consumption (≥20 000 cups) was an independent protective factor against HCC, in each analyses using healthy and risky control groups respectively (HCE group, OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.33-0.95; CLD group, OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.85). However, the high coffee consumption did not affect the HCC risk in patients with HBV (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.36-1.14) after adjustment for HBeAg status, serum HBV DNA level and antiviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A high lifetime coffee consumption was negatively associated with a HCC development. However, this difference of coffee exposure with the HCC group was reduced in chronic hepatitis B patients by the dominant role of viral replication.

Effects of coffee, smoking, and alcohol on liver function tests: a comprehensive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Liver function tests (LFTs) can be affected by many factors and the proposed effects of coffee on LFT require a comprehensive evaluation. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether drinking coffee, smoking, or drinking alcohol have independent effects on LFTs in Korean health-check examinees. METHODS: We used the responses of 500 health-check examinees, who had participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey about coffee, alcohol drinking, and smoking habits. RESULTS: Coffee consumption was closely related to male gender, high body mass index (BMI), alcohol drinking, and smoking. On univariable and multivariable analyses, drinking coffee lowered serum levels of total protein, albumin, and aspartate aminotransferases (AST). On multivariable analyses, smoking raised serum γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level and decreased serum protein and albumin levels, while alcohol drinking raised GGT level after adjustment for age, gender, regular medication, BMI, coffee and alcohol drinking amounts, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee consumption, smoking, and alcohol drinking affect the individual components of LFT in different ways, and the above 3 habits each have an impact on LFTs. Therefore, their effects on LFTs should be carefully interpreted, and further study on the mechanism of the effects is warranted.