3.Determining the potency of measles vaccine using plaque method
Hien Dang Nguyen ; Thu Nu Anh Nguyen
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007;17(5):24-28
Background: Measles vaccine was the only vaccine in the expanded vaccination program still must be imported. Center for research and production of vaccines and biologicals \ufffd?Ha Noi was conducting the first stages of measles vaccine manufacturing technology transfer from the Kitasato Institute in Japan. The Center received semi-finished vaccine to set up finished vaccine production process as well as the testing process. Potency test and its consistency is very essential in quality control. Objectives: In order to identify standard potency assessment methods and potency of 13 lots of finished measles vaccine produced in Viet Nam from imported semi-finished products. Subjects and method: 13 lots of the finished vaccine were determined potency by plaque method based on 13 samples of semi-finished vaccine and the standard sample M16-6 had potency from 4.2 to 4.6 lg PFU/0.5 ml provided by the Kitasato Institute. Results: The result of 13 lots show that the reduction of potency during freeze-drying is within the range (0-0.76 lg); and 4 last consecutive lots are met WHO criteria on heat stability. Conclusion: This shows that the measles vaccine freeze-drying process in Vietnam was officially set up to use for the measles vaccine production in 2007.
Measles Vaccine/ diagnostic use
4.A Review of Smoking Research In Malaysia
Wee Lei Hum ; Caryn Chan Mei Hsien ; Yogarabindranath Swarna Nantha
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2016;71(3 Suppl.):29-41
Two hundred and seventy one original published materials
related to tobacco use were found in a search through a
database dedicated to indexing all original data relevant to
Medicine and Health in Malaysia from 1996 - 2015. A total of
147 papers were selected and reviewed on the basis of their
relevance and implications for future research. Findings
were summarised, categorised and presented according to
epidemiology, behaviour, clinical features and management
of smoking. Most studies are cross-sectional with small
sample sizes. Studies on smoking initiation and prevalence
showed mixed findings with many small scale studies within
the sub-groups. The majority of the studies were related to
factors that contribute to initiation in adolescents.
Nonetheless, there are limited studies on intervention
strategies to curb smoking among this group. There is a
lack of clinical studies to analyse tobacco use and major
health problems in Malaysia. In addition, studies on the best
treatment modalities on the use of pharmacotherapy and
behavioural counselling have also remained unexplored.
Reasons why smokers do not seek clinic help to quit
smoking need further exploration. A finding on the extent of
effort carried out by healthcare providers in assisting
smokers to make quit attempts is not known. Studies on
economic and government initiatives on policies and
tobacco use focus mainly on the effects of cigarette bans,
increased cigarettes taxes and the influence of the tobacco
industry. Recommendations are given for the government to
increase efforts in implementing smoke-free legislation,
early and tailored interventions. Clinical studies in this area
are lacking, as are opportunities to research on ways to
reduce smoking initiation age and the most effective quit
smoking strategies.
Smoking
;
Tobacco Use
6.Prevalence of Tobacco Use and its Socio-demographic Determinants among Saudi Female School Adolescents in Jeddah
Amani Awwadh Al-Otaibi ; Faisal Bin Ibrahim ; Lekhraj Rampal ; Siti Aishah Hassan ; Normala Ibrahim
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2015;11(1):39-48
Tobacco use among females is a rising public health issue. Further insight into the smoking epidemic can
be gained from studying a specific subgroup of interest within the population. Determining predictors of
each tobacco smoking type is necessary for planning tobacco specific intervention programmes. The aim
of this study was to determine the prevalence of ever tobacco use and its associated socio-demographic
factors among Saudi female adolescents aged 12 to 19 in Jeddah. A cross-sectional analytical study was
conducted among female students from intermediate and high secondary schools in Jeddah during the
academic year 2012-2013. Sampling with probability proportionate to size was used to select a sample of
5,150 students from 40 schools. The data were collected using validated self-administrated questionnaire
that required information on tobacco use behaviours and selected socio-demographic characteristics. A
total of 5,073 students participated in this study of whom 51.6% were from intermediate grades, and
83.1% from public schools. The prevalence of ever tobacco use was 44.2% (36.2% water pipe and 30.9%
cigarettes). The significant predictors of ever tobacco use were student’s age, mother’s education, family
structure, residence location and monthly student’s allowance. In conclusion, ever tobacco used is highly
prevalent among female adolescents in Jeddah. Designing intervention programmes aimed at preventing
Saudi female adolescents from smoking should include all forms of tobacco use.
Tobacco Use
;
Smoking
9.Chinese Medicine Amygdalin and β-Glucosidase Combined with Antibody Enzymatic Prodrug System As A Feasible Antitumor Therapy.
Yun-Long LI ; Qiao-Xing LI ; Rui-Jiang LIU ; Xiang-Qian SHEN
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2018;24(3):237-240
Amarogentin is an efficacious Chinese herbal medicine and a component of the bitter apricot kernel. It is commonly used as an expectorant and supplementary anti-cancer drug. β-Glucosidase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the glycosidic bond between aryl and saccharide groups to release glucose. Upon their interaction, β-glucosidase catalyzes amarogentin to produce considerable amounts of hydrocyanic acid, which inhibits cytochrome C oxidase, the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiration chain, and suspends adenosine triphosphate synthesis, resulting in cell death. Hydrocyanic acid is a cell-cycle-stage-nonspecific agent that kills cancer cells. Thus, β-glucosidase can be coupled with a tumor-specific monoclonal antibody. β-Glucosidase can combine with cancer-cell-surface antigens and specifically convert amarogentin to an active drug that acts on cancer cells and the surrounding antibodies to achieve a killing effect. β-Glucosidase is injected intravenously and recognizes cancer-cell-surface antigens with the help of an antibody. The prodrug amarogentin is infused after β-glucosidase has reached the target position. Coupling of cell membrane peptides with β-glucosidase allows the enzyme to penetrate capillary endothelial cells and clear extracellular deep solid tumors to kill the cells therein. The Chinese medicine amarogentin and β-glucosidase will become an important treatment for various tumors when an appropriate monoclonal antibody is developed.
Amygdalin
;
therapeutic use
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal
;
therapeutic use
;
Antineoplastic Agents
;
therapeutic use
;
Cell-Penetrating Peptides
;
therapeutic use
;
Humans
;
Iridoids
;
therapeutic use
;
Prodrugs
;
therapeutic use
;
beta-Glucosidase
;
therapeutic use
10.Efficacy of R±BEACOP regimen in patients with poor-prognosis lymphoma.
Fei DONG ; Yifan PANG ; Jing WANG ; Xiaoyan KE
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2015;40(8):858-863
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the efficacy of cyclophosphamideplus, epirubicin, vincristine, prednisone plus etoposide and/or bleomycin, with or without rituximab (R±BEACOP) regimen in patient with poor-prognosis lymphoma.
METHODS:
A total of 89 patients, who had poor-prognosis lymphoma and received at least 1 cycle of R±BEACOP regimen during 2002 to 2012, were enrolled and analyzed by a retrospective study.
RESULTS:
The rate of complete response was 62.9% (56 patients). The efficacy of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and T/NK NHL was better than that of other types of lymphoma. There was no significant difference in efficacy among the patients with different age, stage or international prognosis index (IPI) (all P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
R±BEACOP regimen is effective in some patients with poor prognosis, especially in HL patients. Thus, multicenter prospective study regarding the R±BEACOP regimen needs to be done to further test its efficacy.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
;
therapeutic use
;
Bleomycin
;
therapeutic use
;
Cyclophosphamide
;
therapeutic use
;
Doxorubicin
;
therapeutic use
;
Etoposide
;
therapeutic use
;
Humans
;
Lymphoma
;
classification
;
diagnosis
;
drug therapy
;
Prednisone
;
therapeutic use
;
Procarbazine
;
therapeutic use
;
Prognosis
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Rituximab
;
therapeutic use
;
Vincristine
;
therapeutic use