[New pharmaceutical dosage forms for allergy treatment]. / Nuevas formas farmacéuticas para el tratamiento de enfermedades alérgicas.

Specific immunotherapy involves certain drawbacks which could be minimized by the use of appropriate adjuvants, capable of amplifying the right immune response with minimal side effects. In this context, we review different types of immunotherapy vehicles and coadjuvants. We describe previous studies by our group in which we demonstrated the adjuvant capacity of Gantrez® AN nanoparticles, which can effectively enhance the immune response. We employed two types of nanoparticles (with and without LPS of Brucella ovis as immunomodulator) within capsulated ovoalbumin and Lollium perenne extract, tested on a model of mice sensitized to this allergenic mixture. In the challenge experiment involving the sensitized mice, differences in the mortality rate and in the MCP-1 levels were found between the treated groups and the control. Under the experimental conditions of this model of mice pre-sensitized to L. perenne, Gantrez®AN nanoparticles appeared to be a good strategy for immunotherapy. We finally tested these carriers administered by the oral route and found that they were able to protect a model of mice sensitized to ovalbumin from anaphylactic shock.

Freezing and freeze-drying of the bacterium Rahnella aquatilis BNM 0523: study of protecting agents, rehydration media and freezing temperatures.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare freezing and freeze-drying treatments for conserving Rahnella aquatilis (BNM 0523) with the goal to achieve an adequate commercial formulation of this biocontrol agent. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of several protective agents, rehydration media and freezing temperatures on the viability and functional activity of the R. aquatilis was investigated. The storage stability at 3 months and 4 years was determined by checking the viability of the cells and their biocontrol capability against Botrytis cinerea by measuring the percentage of reduction of disease severity on apple. The best results were obtained by the freeze-drying of the cells using a mixture of skimmed nonfat milk 10%, yeast extract 0·5% and glucose 1% as the protecting and rehydrating medium, and a quickly freezing (-70°C) before the freeze-drying. In this case, the viability of the cells after 4 years was 98%, and their antagonistic ability showed a little decrease with respect fresh cells. CONCLUSIONS: The studies showed that R. aquatilis was resistant to freezing and freeze-drying when it was used a mixture of cryoprotectants and that it was possible to obtain inoculums with high viability and good effectiveness for reduction of decay caused by B. cinerea. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is probably the first report about the resistance of R. aquatilis to freezing and freeze-drying treatments and shows that these operations could be useful for obtaining a commercial formulation of this biocontrol agent.

Influenza vaccination coverage among hospital personnel over three consecutive vaccination campaigns (2001-2002 to 2003-2004).

This study was carried out to assess influenza vaccination coverage among hospital personnel and the impact of health promotion campaigns, within the hospital, designed to increase vaccination coverage over three consecutive vaccination campaigns (2001-2002 to 2003-2004). The health promotion tool used in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 were informative posters distributed throughout the hospital. In the 2003-2004 season, the recommendation was also published in the internal bulletin and Web site of the hospital. In addition, a physician and a nurse from the Department of Preventive Medicine visited all departments offering vaccination in the work place. The overall vaccination coverage in the 2001-2002 campaign was 16% with coverage of 11.5% in nurses and 15% in physicians. In the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 campaigns the overall vaccination coverage was 21% and 40%, respectively (p<0.01). Staff physicians and resident physicians reached 60 and 42% coverage rates in the 2003-2004 campaign, but coverage in nurses and nursing assistant remained around 30% (p<0.01). In summary, influenza vaccination coverage among hospital based healthcare personnel increased significantly during the last three seasons, however, it still remains low despite active attempts at promoting influenza vaccination.

[Radiological appearances of cancer of the gastric stump (author's transl)]. / Aspects radiologiques du cancer du moignon gastrique

The authors report 35 cases of primary carcinoma of the gastric stump, describing the technique they use for radiography, noting the main diagnosis signs and discussing the importance of the various methods for their study. They emphasize the importance of periodic post-operative control in these cases.