A retrospective nationwide register-based study to evaluate the non-specific effects of first MMR vaccination among children in Finland.

BACKGROUND: According to earlier studies, live vaccines like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine could reduce also other infections than only the infections they are targeted against. This non-specific effect has been seen especially in studies in low-income countries and results from high-income countries have not been unambiguous. In 2011 Finland changed the recommended schedule for the first MMR vaccination from 18 months to 12 months of age. This change created a natural experiment for evaluating the potential non-specific effects. METHODS: This is a retrospective nationwide register-based cohort study of Finnish children born between 2008 and 2012. Children were divided into two cohorts by age at MMR vaccination: children administered early MMR vaccination (11 through 12 months of age) and late MMR vaccination (18 through 19 months of age). Morbidity was evaluated during the main follow-up period (from 13 to 17 months of age) and before any MMR vaccination (3 to 10 months) and after all were vaccinated with MMR (20 to 35 months) as control follow-up periods. We analyzed all infections and did additional analyzes for urinary tract infections (UTI) and bronchitis. Injuries were analyzed as a control outcome. RESULTS: Early MMR vaccinated children (N = 79949) had fewer infections compared to late MMR vaccinated (N = 60965) during the main follow-up period. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was 0.84 (95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 0.81-0.87). However, similar differences were also observed during the control follow-up periods. MMR vaccinated children had less UTI in the main follow-up period (IRR 0.73, 0.60-0.89) but not in the control follow-up periods. When stratified by sex, the difference was observed among girls but not in boys. CONCLUSION: No clear evidence was found for non-specific effects in infectious diseases morbidity. However, there could be a nonspecific effect on UTI. Confirmation is needed from other studies, especially from high-income countries.

Separation and determination of rare earth elements by Dowex 2-X8 resin using sodium trimetaphosphate as elution agent.

The distribution coefficients of rare earth elements and thorium with Dowex 2-X8, 200-400 mesh, a strongly basic anion-exchange resin, have been determined regarding four different concentrations of sodium trimetaphosphate (3 x 10(-3), 5 x 10(-3), 7 x 10(-3) and 0.01 M). The separation of the rare earths and thorium obtained from an Australian monazite has been investigated by anion-exchange chromatography with sodium trimetaphosphate concentration gradient on a Dowex 2-X8 ion-exchange columns. The order of elution of the elements was the reverse of the order of elution of the same elements on Dowex 1 resin. The elution was investigated using 5 mg and 250 mg samples. In the separation of 5 mg samples, all elements were separated in 29 min. It has been seen that the elution peaks are narrow, tailing effects are very small, Dy and Y are well separated. Qualitative and quantitative determinations were realized by spectrofluorometry.

Fluorimetric trace determination of cerium(III) with sodium triphosphate.

Sodium triphosphate acts as a specific reagent for enhancing the fluorescence intensity of cerium(III). The purpose of this study was to investigate the spectrofluorimetric determination of trace amounts of Ce(III) in sodium triphosphate solution. The excitation and emission wavelengths are 303.5 nm and 353 nm respectively. Optimum sodium triphosphate concentration is found to be 0.074 g l(-1) at room temperature. The fluorescence varies linearly with the concentration of cerium(III) in the range 0.001-45 mug ml(-1). The detection limit is 9.4 x 10(-4)mug ml(-1). The relative standard deviations for 30 mug ml(-1) and 0.05 mug ml(-1) Ce(III) in 0.074 g l(-1) sodium triphosphate solution are 1.1% and 0.72% respectively. Quenching effects of other lanthanides and some inorganic anions are described. This method is a direct and rapid analytical method for the determination of Ce(III) in rare earth mixtures and cerium concentrates.

Spectrofluorometric trace determination of cerium(III) in sodium hexametaphosphate solutions.

The use of sodium hexametaphosphate in the spectrofluorometric determination of trace amounts of cerium(III) ions is described. Sodium hexametaphosphate acts as a specific reagent for enhancing the fluorescence intensity of cerium(III) in aqueous solutions. The apparent excitation and fluorescence wavelength used are 304 and 344 nm, respectively. Maximum fluorescence intensity is obtained by irradiating Ce(III) dissolved in 5.346 g/l sodium hexametaphosphate solution at room temperature. The fluorescence varies linearly with the concentration of cerium(III) in the range of 0.001-60 microg/ml. The coefficient of variation for 45 microg/ml Ce(III) in 5.346 g/l sodium hexametaphosphate solution is 1. The quenching effects of other lanthanides and some inorganic anions are given. This technique permits a direct and rapid determination of cerium(III) in rare earth mixtures and cerium concentrates.