'Test n Treat' (TnT): a cluster randomized feasibility trial of on-site rapid Chlamydia trachomatis tests and treatment in ethnically diverse, sexually active teenagers attending technical colleges.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a cluster-randomized feasibility trial of 90-minute Chlamydia trachomatis tests and same day on-site treatment ('Test n Treat/TnT') in six technical colleges in London, England, to assess TnT uptake rates; follow-up rates; prevalence of C. trachomatis at baseline and 7 months; time to treatment; acceptability of TnT. METHODS: Participants completed questionnaires and provided genitourinary samples at baseline and 7 months. Participants were informed that baseline samples would not be tested for 7 months and were advised to get screened independently. Colleges were randomly allocated 1:1 to intervention (TnT) or control (no TnT). One month and 4 months post recruitment, participants at intervention colleges were texted invitations for on-site free C. trachomatis tests. A purposive sample of students who did/did not attend for screening were interviewed (n = 26). RESULTS: Five hundred and nine sexually active students were recruited: median age 17.9 years, 47% male, 50% black ethnicity, 55% reporting two or more sexual partners in the previous year. TnT uptake was 13% (33/259; 95% CI 8.9-17.4%) at 1 month and 10% (26/259; 6.7-14.4%) at 4 months with overall C. trachomatis positivity 5.1% (3/59; 1.1-14.2%). Follow-up at 7 months was 62% (317/509) for questionnaires and 52% (264/509) for samples. C. trachomatis prevalence was 6.2% (31/503) at baseline and 6.1% (16/264) at 7 months. Median time from test to treatment was 15 h. Interviews suggested low test uptake was associated with not feeling at risk, perceptions of stigma, and little knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high C. trachomatis rates at baseline and follow-up, uptake of testing was low. Like many countries, England urgently needs better sex education, including making STI testing routine/normal. Trial registration ISRCTN58038795.

Contact precautions: more is not necessarily better.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether increases in contact isolation precautions are associated with decreased adherence to isolation practices among healthcare workers (HCWs). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study from February 2009 to October 2009. SETTING: Eleven teaching hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: HCWs. METHODS: One thousand thirteen observations conducted on HCWs. Additional data included the number of persons in isolation, types of HCWs, and hospital-specific contact precaution practices. Main outcome measures included compliance with individual components of contact isolation precautions (hand hygiene before and after patient encounter, donning of gown and glove upon entering a patient room, and doffing upon exiting) and overall compliance (all 5 measures together) during varying burdens of isolation. RESULTS: Compliance with hand hygiene was as follows: prior to donning gowns/gloves, 37.2%; gowning, 74.3%; gloving, 80.1%; doffing of gowns/gloves, 80.1%; after gown/glove removal, 61%. Compliance with all components was 28.9%. As the burden of isolation increased (20% or less to greater than 60%), a decrease in compliance with hand hygiene (43.6%-4.9%) and with all 5 components (31.5%-6.5%) was observed. In multivariable analysis, there was an increase in noncompliance with all 5 components of the contact isolation precautions bundle (odds ratio [OR], 6.6 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-37.44]; P = .03) and in noncompliance with hand hygiene prior to donning gowns and gloves (OR, 10.1 [95% CI, 1.84-55.54]; P = .008) associated with increasing burden of isolation. CONCLUSIONS: As the proportion of patients in contact isolation increases, compliance with contact isolation precautions decreases. Placing 40% of patients under contact precautions represents a tipping point for noncompliance with contact isolation precautions measures.

Evaluation of the FilmArray® system for detection of Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis.

AIMS: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the BioFire Diagnostics FilmArray(®) system in combination with their Biothreat Panel for the detection of Bacillus anthracis (Ba), Francisella tularensis (Ft) and Yersinia pestis (Yp) DNA, and demonstrate the detection of Ba spores. METHODS AND RESULTS: DNA samples from Ba, Ft and Yp strains and near-neighbours, and live Ba spores were analysed using the FilmArray(®) Biothreat Panel, a multiplexed PCR-based assay for 17 pathogens and toxins. Sensitivity studies with DNA indicate that the limit of detection is 250 genome equivalents (GEs) per sample or lower. Furthermore, the identification of Ft, Yp or Bacillus species was made in 63 of 72 samples tested at 25 GE or less. With samples containing 25 CFU of Ba Sterne spores, at least one of the two possible Ba markers was identified in all samples tested. We observed no cross-reactivity with near-neighbour DNAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the FilmArray(®) Biothreat Panel is a sensitive and selective assay for detecting the genetic signatures of Ba, Ft and Yp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The FilmArray(®) platform is a complete sample-to-answer system, combining sample preparation, PCR and data analysis. This system is particularly suited for biothreat testing where samples need to be analysed for multiple biothreats by operators with limited training.

Defining cell culture conditions to improve human norovirus infectivity assays.

Significant difficulties remain for determining whether human noroviruses (hNoV) recovered from water, food, and environmental samples are infectious. Three-dimensional (3-D) tissue culture of human intestinal cells has shown promise in developing an infectivity assay, but reproducibility, even within a single laboratory, remains problematic. From the literature and our observations, we hypothesized that the common factors that lead to more reproducible hNoV infectivity in vitro requires that the cell line be (1) of human gastrointestinal origin, (2) expresses apical microvilli, and (3) be a positive secretor cell line. The C2BBe1 cell line, which is a brush-border producing clone of Caco-2, meets these three criteria. When challenged with Genogroup II viruses, we observed a 2 Log(10) increase in viral RNA titer. A passage experiment with GII viruses showed evidence of the ability to propagate hNoV by both quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and microscopy. In our hands, using 3-D C2BBe1 cells improves reproducibility of the infectivity assay for hNoV, but the assay can still be variable. Two sources of variability include the cells themselves (mixed phenotypes of small and large intestine) and initial titer measurements using qRT-PCR that measures all RNA vs. plaque assays that measure infectious virus.

Review of macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin), ketolids (telithromycin) and glycylcyclines (tigecycline).

The advanced macrolides, azithromycin and clarithromycin, and the ketolide, telithromycin, are structural analogs of erythromycin. They have several distinct advantages when compared with erythromycin, including enhanced spectrum of activity, more favorable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, once-daily administration, and improved tolerability. Clarithromycin and azithromycin are used extensively for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and Helicobacter pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease. Telithromycin is approved for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. Severe hepatotoxicity has been reported with the use of telithromycin.

Donor-derived Strongyloides stercoralis infections in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Donor-derived Strongyloides stercoralis infection occurs rarely after transplantation, and the risk factors are not well understood. We present cases of two renal allograft recipients who developed Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome after receipt of organs from a common deceased donor who received high-dose steroids as part of a preconditioning regimen. METHODS: The two renal transplant patients who developed Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome are reported in case study format with review of the literature. RESULTS: Microscopic examination of stool from one renal transplant patient and of tracheal and gastric aspirates from the other transplant patient revealed evidence of S. stercoralis larvae. Retrospective testing of serum from the deceased donor for Strongyloides antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was positive at 11.7 U/mL (Centers for Disease Control reference >1.7 U/mL positive). One patient was treated successfully with oral ivermectin. The other patient also had complete resolution of strongyloidiasis, but required a course of parenteral ivermectin because of malabsorption from severe gastrointestinal strongyloidiasis. CONCLUSIONS: These case studies provide some of the best evidence of transmission of S. stercoralis by renal transplantation. Because of the high risk of hyperinfection syndrome and its associated morbidity and mortality, high-risk donors and recipients should be screened for Strongyloides infection, so that appropriate treatment can be initiated before the development of disease. This study indicates that parenteral ivermectin can be used safely and effectively in patients in whom severe malabsorption would preclude the effective use of oral formulation. These cases also suggest that reconsideration should be given for the safety of steroids in donor-preconditioning regimens.

Macrolides, ketolides, and glycylcyclines: azithromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, tigecycline.

The advanced macrolides, azithromycin and clarithromycin, and the ketolide, telithromycin, are structural analogs of erythromycin. They have several distinct advantages when compared with erythromycin, including enhanced spectrum of activity, more favorable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, once-daily administration, and improved tolerability. Clarithromycin and azithromycin are used extensively for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and Helicobacter pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease. Telithromycin is approved for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. Severe hepatotoxicity has been reported with the use of telithromycin.

A highly immunogenic trivalent T cell receptor peptide vaccine for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: T cell receptor (TCR) peptide vaccination is a novel approach to treating multiple sclerosis (MS). The low immunogenicity of previous vaccines has hindered the development of TCR peptide vaccination for MS. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunogenicity of intramuscular injections of TCR BV5S2, BV6S5 and BV13S1 CDR2 peptides in incomplete Freunds adjuvant (IFA) with intradermal injections of the same peptides without IFA. METHODS: MS subjects were randomized to receive TCR peptides/IFA, TCR peptides/saline or IFA alone. Subjects were on study for 24 weeks. RESULTS: The TCR peptides/IFA vaccine induced vigorous T cell responses in 100% of subjects completing the 24-week study (9/9) compared with only 20% (2/10) of those receiving the TCR peptides/saline vaccine (P =0.001). IFA alone induced a weak response in only one of five subjects. Aside from injection site reactions, there were no significant adverse events attributable to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The trivalent TCR peptide in IFA vaccine represents a significant improvement in immunogenicity over previous TCR peptide vaccines and warrants investigation of its ability to treat MS.

Novel membrane-bound GM-CSF vaccines for the treatment of cancer: generation and evaluation of mbGM-CSF mouse B16F10 melanoma cell vaccine.

Cancer vaccines composed of tumor cells engineered to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are currently being clinically evaluated. To enhance the immunogenicity of GM-CSF-secreting tumor cell vaccines, a novel approach expressing GM-CSF as a membrane-bound form (mbGM-CSF) on the tumor cell surface was investigated. The intent was to enhance antigen presentation by increasing interactions between the tumor cell lines in the vaccine and GM-CSF receptor positive antigen presenting cells (APC), notably the patient's Langerhans cells residing within the intradermal injection site. B16.F10 cells engineered to express either membrane-bound or secreted GM-CSF were compared in the B16.F10 mouse melanoma model. We observed that mbGM-CSF on the tumor cell surface retarded growth and induced protective immunity to subsequent wild-type tumor challenge more effectively than tumor cells secreting GM-CSF. Vaccination with irradiated mbGM-CSF B16.F10 also provided strong protection from wild-type tumor challenge, improved therapeutic effects against established tumors, and retarded lung metastases. These results demonstrate that mbGM-CSF B16.F10 cells can induce strong systemic immunity that protects against and therapeutically treats B16.F10 melanoma more effectively than analogous vaccines containing only secreted GM-CSF. These data warrant further development and clinical testing of mbGM-CSF tumor cell vaccines.

Antigenic and immunologic characterization of an allogeneic colon carcinoma vaccine.

We report the immunological characterization of three colon carcinoma cell lines, COLO 205, SW620 and SW403, which we selected to combine with cytokine-secreting fibroblasts for the development of an allogeneic tumour cell vaccine. The cell lines expressed HLA-A2 as well as shared tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) representative of colon carcinomas: CEA, Ep-CAM, MUC1, HER2/neu and MAGE antigens. They did not secrete high levels of the immunosuppressive factors TGF-beta, IL-10 or prostaglandins. The lines presented TAAs in a manner recognized by immune effector cells, which was demonstrated by the lysis of SW620 by HLA-A2-restricted anti-p53 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). COLO 205 and SW620 were genetically modified to express the co-stimulatory molecule CD80 (B7.1), which increased the ability of the cells to stimulate CTL in vitro. CTL clones derived from HLA-A2+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with the CD80-expressing lines lysed the stimulator cell and an HLA-A2+ colon cancer cell line, but did not lyse an isogeneic fibroblast line or an HLA-A2- colon cancer cell line. CTL clones derived from colon carcinoma patients immunized with an allogeneic vaccine containing these lines demonstrated killing of autologous tumour cells, the vaccine cell lines and other HLA-A2+ colon cancer cell lines, but not fibroblasts isogeneic to certain of the target cell lines. Our studies demonstrate that these colon carcinoma cell lines express shared TAAs that can induce CTLs which recognize and lyse other colon carcinoma cells, and support the continued clinical evaluation of the CD80 gene modified allogeneic colon cell/cytokine-secreting fibroblast carcinoma vaccine.

TCR peptide therapy in human autoimmune diseases.

Inflammatory Th1 cells reacting to tissue/myelin derived antigens likely contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis. One regulatory mechanism that may be useful for treating autoimmune diseases involves an innate second set of Th2 cells specific for portions of the T cell receptor of clonally expanded pathogenic Th1 cells. These Th2 cells are programmed to respond to internally modified V region peptides from the T cell receptor (TCR) that are expressed on the Th1 cell surface in association with major histocompatibility molecules. Once the regulatory Th2 cells are specifically activated, they may inhibit inflammatory Th1 cells through a non-specific bystander mechanism. A variety of strategies have been used by us to identify candidate disease-associated TCR V genes present on pathogenic Th1 cells, including BV5S2, BV6S5, and BV13SI in MS, BV3, BV14, and BV17 in RA, and BV3 and BV13S1 in psoriasis. TCR peptides corresponding to the mid region of these BV genes were found to be consistently immunogenic in vivo when administered either i.d. in saline or i.m. in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). In MS patients, repeated injection of low doses of peptides (100-300 microg) significantly boosted the number of TCR-reactive Th2 cells. These activated cells secreted cytokines, including IL-10, that are known to inhibit inflammatory Th1 cells. Cytokine release could also be induced in TCR-reactive Th2 cells by direct cell-cell contact with Th1 cells expressing the target V gene. These findings indicate the potential of regulatory Th2 cells to inhibit not only the target Th1 cells, but also bystander Th1 cells expressing different V genes specific for other autoantigens. TCR peptide vaccines have been used in our studies to treat a total of 171 MS patients (6 trials), 484 RA patients (7 trials), and 177 psoriasis patients (2 trials). Based on this experience in 824 patients with autoimmune diseases, TCR peptide vaccination is safe and well tolerated, and can produce significant clinical improvement in a subset of patients that respond to immunization. TCR peptide vaccination represents a promising approach that is well-suited for treating complex autoimmune diseases.

Vaccination with a CDR2 BV6S2/6S5 peptide in adjuvant induces peptide-specific T-cell responses in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Earlier studies from several groups including ours have documented that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have over-expression of activated T-cells from specific TCR V beta families, including BV6S2/S5 (Kotzin et al. [1991] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9161--9165; Gold et al. [1997] J. Neuroimmunol. 76:29--38). It has also been established in the rat EAE model that peptide vaccines to the over-expressed V beta 8.2 TCR can prevent MBP induced disease (Vandenbark et al. [1989] Nature 341:541--544). In the current clinical study, 10 patients were vaccinated with 300 microg of BV6S2/6S5 peptide emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) and monitored for safety and immunogenicity in a 48-week multicenter, open-label trial. The peptide vaccine was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were observed. Vaccinations induced cell-mediated immunity to the immunizing peptide in eight of 10 patients as demonstrated by lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test responses. In summary, these results demonstrate that immunization with TCR BV6S2/6S5 peptide vaccine in MS patients is safe and immunogenic, and supports a larger double-blind placebo controlled trial to determine the clinical efficacy of this approach.

Pokémon contagion: photosensitive epilepsy or mass psychogenic illness?

We studied a reported illness outbreak occurring on December 16, 1997, involving more than 12,000 Japanese children who had various signs and symptoms of illness after watching an episode of a popular animated cartoon, Pokémon. While photosensitive epilepsy was diagnosed in a minuscule fraction of those affected, this explanation cannot account for the breadth and pattern of the events. The characteristic features of the episode are consistent with the diagnosis of epidemic hysteria, triggered by sudden anxiety after dramatic mass media reports describing a relatively small number of genuine photosensitive-epilepsy seizures. The importance of the mass media in precipitating outbreaks of mass psychogenic illness is discussed.

Phase I and imaging trial of a monoclonal antibody directed against gastrin-releasing peptide in patients with lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells express and secrete bombesin-like peptides (BLP) that can activate specific receptors that stimulate the growth of these cells. A murine monoclonal antibody, 2A11, which binds to the BLP, gastrin-releasing peptide with high affinity, has been reported to decrease the growth of SCLC cells in vitro and in athymic nude mice. A Phase I trial in lung cancer patients was performed using multiple doses of 2A11. Thirteen patients with lung cancer received 12 doses of 2A11 antibody three times a week for 4 weeks at one of four dose levels. Serum samples were obtained prior to initiation and before each dose of 2A11 antibody therapy for measurement of 2A11 antibody levels and determination of serum human anti-mouse antibody levels. A pilot imaging evaluation using 111In conjugated 2A11 monoclonal antibody was also performed in the same patients to aid in the study of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. No toxic reactions were observed, and none of the patients developed detectable human antimouse antibody; however, no objective antitumor responses were observed. The mean trough serum 2A11 levels in patients increased with increasing dose level: 0.26+/-0.2 microg/ml, 6.7+/-6 microg/ml, 71.5+/-60 microg/ml, 248+/-184 microg/ml for dose levels 1 mg/m2, 10 mg/m2, 100 mg/m2, and 250 mg/m2, respectively. At each dose level, sustained detectable serum levels of the monoclonal antibody were achieved. Tumor uptake was noted in 11 of 12 patients who were injected with 111In conjugated 2A11. Because no dose-limiting clinical toxicity was observed, a mathematical model was used to define the recommended Phase II dose of 250 mg/m2. This trial established that repeated doses of monoclonal antibody 2A11 could be given safely to patients, and sustained levels could be achieved for a 4-week schedule. Further evaluation of the antitumor effects of 2A11 is warranted.

Interleukin 2 gene therapy of colorectal carcinoma with autologous irradiated tumor cells and genetically engineered fibroblasts: a Phase I study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety, toxicity, and antitumor immune response following S.C. immunizations with a mixture of irradiated, autologous tumor cells and autologous fibroblasts that were genetically modified to express the gene for interleukin 2 (IL-2) in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Ten patients were treated with a fixed dose of tumor cells (10(7)) and escalating doses of fibroblasts secreting IL-2 (per 24 h): 100 units (three patients), 200 units (three patients), 400 units (three patients), and 800 units (one patient). Pre- and posttreatment peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated for evidence of antitumor immune responses. Fatigue and/or flu-like symptoms were experienced by seven patients and delayed-type hypersensitivity-like skin reactions were observed at the sites of the second or subsequent vaccinations in five patients. Low frequencies of tumor cytotoxic T-cell precursors (range, 1/190,000-1/1,320,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were detected prior to therapy in four of seven patients. There was a 5-fold increase following treatment in the frequency of tumor cytotoxic T-cell precursors in two of six evaluable patients. Some patients with colorectal cancer have low frequencies of tumor cytotoxic T-cell precursors that may be increased by this well-tolerated form of IL-2 gene therapy, which warrants continued clinical evaluation.

Epidemic hysteria in Virginia: the case of the phantom gasser of 1933-1934.

OBJECTIVE: We studied an example of epidemic hysteria occurring outside a closed community and involving fear of being "gassed." The description presented is that of a previously unrecorded case of epidemic hysteria in the state of Virginia during 1933-1934. DATA SOURCES: Data were gathered from contemporary newspaper accounts. CONCLUSION: The case of the Virginia "gasser" is one in a long series of epidemic hysteria incidents during the 20th century, coinciding with heightened awareness of environmental pollution and triggered by imaginary or exaggerated contamination threats. A recommendation is provided on how physicians should approach such episodes.

Spontaneous absorption of a cataractous lens.

A case of spontaneous absorption of a cataractous lens is presented. A 37-year-old woman with Down's syndrome presented with bilateral cataracts. On follow-up, the cataract in her right eye was found to be absorbed with no secondary uveitis or glaucoma. Surgical capsulotomy was performed on the remnant anterior and posterior capsules. Such absorption is known in juveniles and in hypermature cataract, but is rare in adults in the absence of injury or inflammation. Absorption occurred over a period of one year.