Factors associated with influenza vaccination among adult cancer patients: a case-control study.

Influenza vaccination is recommended for cancer patients; however, adherence is low. We aimed to identify predictive factors for vaccination among cancer patients. We conducted a case-control analysis of a patient cohort in the 2010-2011 influenza season. We included adult cancer patients with solid malignancies undergoing chemotherapy, and haematological patients with active disease. Patients who died between October and November 2010 (N = 43) were excluded from analysis. Cases received the 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine, and controls did not. Data were obtained from patients' records, and validated through personal interviews. We collected socio-demographic information, and data on the malignancy and co-morbidities and triggers for vaccination and non-vaccination. We performed bivariate and multivariable analyses, in which vaccination status was the dependent variable. Of 806 patients included in analysis, 387 (48%) were vaccinated. Variables associated with vaccination on bivariate analysis were older age, higher socio-economic status, lower crowding index, marital status (widowed > married > single), malignancy type (haematological > solid tumours) and time from diagnosis, low-risk malignancy, diabetes, past vaccination, country of birth (non-Russian origin), and physicians' recommendations. Predictive factors found to be independently associated with vaccination on multivariable analysis were past vaccinations, low-risk malignancy, and country of birth. In the analysis conducted among interviewees (N = 561), recommendations from the oncologist (OR 10.7, 95% CI 5.4-21.2) and from the primary-care physician (OR 3.35, 95% CI 2.05-5.49) were strong predictors for vaccination. We conclude that 'habitual vaccinees' continue influenza vaccinations when ill with cancer. Physicians' recommendations, especially the oncologist's, have a major influence on patients' compliance with influenza vaccination.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of cesium-133 in the halophilic halotolerant bacterium Ba1. Chemical shift and transport studies.

Ba1 bacteria (Halomonas israelensis) were grown on different salt concentrations 0.2-4 M. When the cells were transferred to a medium containing 25 mM CsCl without potassium there was an uptake of cesium by the cells. The intracellular cesium signal was shifted from the cesium signal in the medium without the use of a shift reagent. The shift was depended on the salt concentration in the growth medium. The intracellular cesium shift showed a much smaller dependence on the concentration of salts in the medium than the extracellular cesium; the same results were detected for cells grown on a medium containing 25 mM CsCl. The cesium transport through the cell membrane was mostly by active transport. The cesium concentration in the cell was higher than that of the medium, approximately 100 mM intracellular concentration compared to 25 mM in the medium. The first order constants for influx or efflux of cesium were from 2 x 10(-4) and up to 24 x 10(-4)/min for the different medium concentrations.