PMID: 

Transl Neurodegener. 2014 ;3:16. Epub 2014 Aug 8. PMID: 25114790

Abstract Title: 

Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young African American boys: a reanalysis of CDC data.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: A significant number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder suffer a loss of previously-acquired skills, suggesting neurodegeneration or a type of progressive encephalopathy with an etiological basis occurring after birth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectof the age at which children got their first Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine on autism incidence. This is a reanalysis of the data set, obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), used for the Destefano et al. 2004 publication on the timing of the first MMR vaccine and autism diagnoses.METHODS: The author embarked on the present study to evaluate whether a relationship exists between child age when the first MMR vaccine was administered among cases diagnosed with autism and controls born between 1986 through 1993 among school children in metropolitan Atlanta. The Pearson's chi-squared method was used to assess relative risks of receiving an autism diagnosis within the total cohort as well as among different race and gender categories.RESULTS: When comparing cases and controls receiving their first MMR vaccine before and after 36 months of age, there was a statistically significant increase in autism cases specifically among African American males who received the first MMR prior to 36 months of age. Relative risks for males in general and African American males were 1.69 (p=0.0138) and 3.36 (p=0.0019), respectively. Additionally, African American males showed an odds ratio of 1.73 (p=0.0200) for autism cases in children receiving their first MMR vaccine prior to 24 months of age versus 24 months of age and thereafter.CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides new epidemiologic evidence showing that African American males receiving the MMR vaccine prior to 24 months of age or 36 months of age are more likely to receive an autism diagnosis.

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PMID: 

Am J Epidemiol. 1997 Apr 1 ;145(7):594-7. PMID: 9098175

Abstract Title: 

Does prior infection with varicella-zoster virus influence risk of adult glioma?

Abstract: 

To evaluate a possible association between varicella-zoster virus infection and glioma, the authors asked adults with glioma (n = 462) whose tumors were diagnosed between August 1, 1991, and March 31, 1994, and age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls (n = 443) about their histories of chickenpox or shingles. Cases were significantly less likely than controls to report a history of either chickenpox (odds ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3-0.6) or shingles (odds ratio = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8). To obtain serologic support for these findings, the authors conducted double-blind enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for immunoglobulin G antibodies to varicella-zoster virus among 167 self-reporting subjects for whom blood samples were available. Cases and controls reporting no history of chickenpox were equally likely to test positive (73% vs. 75%), but among those reporting a positive history, cases were less likely than were controls to test positive (71% vs. 85%). Despite the misclassification, an odds ratio of 0.6 was obtained using either serologic data (95% CI 0.3-1.3) or reported history of chickenpox (95% CI 0.3-1.1) in this subgroup of subjects. This suggests that adults with glioma were less likely than controls either to have had prior varicella-zoster virus infection or to have an immunoglobulin G antibody response adequate to indicate positivity. Since either explanation suggests novel mechanisms for brain tumor pathogenesis, these findings require corroboration and elaboration.

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PMID: 

Hum Exp Toxicol. 2014 Aug ;33(8):886-93. Epub 2013 Nov 25. PMID: 24275643

Abstract Title: 

Vaccination to prevent varicella: Goldman and King's response to Myers' interpretation of Varicella Active Surveillance Project data.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that herpes zoster (HZ) incidence rates among children and adults (aged

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PMID: 

Drug Saf. 2018 08 ;41(8):767-774. PMID: 29560597

Abstract Title: 

Central Demyelinating Diseases after Vaccination Against Hepatitis B Virus: A Disproportionality Analysis within the VAERS Database.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination programs were set up worldwide in the early 1990s. Despite their major focus on reducing the burden of HB infection, they have seldom achieved the targeted population coverage in most countries, including the USA, with around 24.5% of adults being vaccinated against HB. Among proposed reasons for this is the persisting doubt about a possible link between HB vaccination and the occurrence of cases of multiple sclerosis (MS).OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate a potential safety signal between MS and HB vaccination. We conducted a disproportionality analysis (DPA) using the cases reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).METHODS: We calculated the proportional reporting rate (PRR) and reporting odds ratio (ROR) of MS having occurred within the 120 days following HB immunization in adults aged 19-49 years when compared with other vaccines using the reports recorded in the VAERS database. Both ratios were estimated globally and then according to the origin of reports (USA vs. non-USA). We then performed a sensitivity analysis using a broader category of demyelinating events.FINDINGS: MS cases following HB vaccination were more likely to originate from outside the USA and to be reported before 2000 than those associated with other immunizations. All computed ratios were found to be statistically significant, with PRRs ranging from 3.48 to 5.56 and RORs ranging from 3.48 to 5.62. When considering the geographical origin, similar RORs were obtained for both US and non-US cases.CONCLUSION: In VAERS, MS cases were up to five times more likely to be reported after an HB vaccination than after any other vaccination. Since DPA is mainly suited for hypothesis generation, further studies evaluating the nature of the link between MS and HB vaccination would be of considerable importance.

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PMID: 

Vaccine. 2018 04 5 ;36(15):1958-1964. Epub 2018 Mar 7. PMID: 29525279

Abstract Title: 

Assessment of temporally-related acute respiratory illness following influenza vaccination.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: A barrier to influenza vaccination is the misperception that the inactivated vaccine can cause influenza. Previous studies have investigated the risk of acute respiratory illness (ARI) after influenza vaccination with conflicting results. We assessed whether there is an increased rate of laboratory-confirmed ARI in post-influenza vaccination periods.METHODS: We conducted a cohort sub-analysis of children and adults in the MoSAIC community surveillance study from 2013 to 2016. Influenza vaccination was confirmed through city or hospital registries. Cases of ARI were ascertained by twice-weekly text messages to household to identify members with ARI symptoms. Nasal swabs were obtained from ill participants and analyzed for respiratory pathogens using multiplex PCR. The primary outcome measure was the hazard ratio of laboratory-confirmed ARI in individuals post-vaccination compared to other time periods during three influenza seasons.RESULTS: Of the 999 participants, 68.8% were children, 30.2% were adults. Each study season, approximately half received influenza vaccine and one third experienced≥1 ARI. The hazard of influenza in individuals during the 14-day post-vaccination period was similar to unvaccinated individuals during the same period (HR 0.96, 95% CI [0.60, 1.52]). The hazard of non-influenza respiratory pathogens was higher during the same period (HR 1.65, 95% CI [1.14, 2.38]); when stratified by age the hazard remained higher for children (HR 1·71, 95% CI [1.16, 2.53]) but not for adults (HR 0.88, 95% CI [0.21, 3.69]).CONCLUSION: Among children there was an increase in the hazard of ARI caused by non-influenza respiratory pathogens post-influenza vaccination compared to unvaccinated children during the same period. Potential mechanisms for this association warrant further investigation. Future research could investigate whether medical decision-making surrounding influenza vaccination may be improved by acknowledging patient experiences, counseling regarding different types of ARI, and correcting the misperception that all ARI occurring after vaccination are caused by influenza.

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PMID: 

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Feb ;30(2):107-11. PMID: 21079528

Abstract Title: 

Vaccine Effectiveness Against Laboratory-confirmed Influenza in Healthy Young Children: A Case-Control Study.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: the Western Australian Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness study commenced in 2008 to evaluate a new program to provide free influenza vaccine to all children aged 6 to 59 months. We aimed to assess the protective effect of inactivated influenza vaccination in these children.METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study in general practices and a hospital emergency department, testing all eligible patients for influenza and a range of other common respiratory viruses. Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed influenza was estimated with cases defined as children with an influenza-like illness who tested positive and controls as those with an influenza-like illness who tested negative for influenza virus. We calculated VE using the adjusted odds ratio from multivariate logistic regression. As a surrogate marker for adequate specimen collection, we explored the difference in VE point estimates defining controls as children in whom another respiratory virus was detected.RESULTS: a total of 75 children were enrolled from general practices and 214 through the emergency department, with 12 (27%) and 36 (17%), respectively, having laboratory-confirmed influenza. Using all the influenza-negative controls, the adjusted VE was 58% (95% confidence interval, 9-81). When controls were limited to those with another virus present, the adjusted VE was 68% (95% confidence interval, 26-86).CONCLUSIONS: VE estimates were higher when controls included only those children with another respiratory virus detected. Testing for other common respiratory viruses enables the control group to be restricted to those for whom an adequate sample is likely.

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PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Nov 15. Epub 2019 Nov 15. PMID: 31739074

Abstract Title: 

The antioxidant activities of garlic polysaccharide and its derivatives.

Abstract: 

Garlic was used as raw material to extract garlic polysaccharide (P) with hot water extraction method. IR and NMR spectra showed that the preparation of sulfated garlic polysaccharide (SP), phosphorylated garlic polysaccharide (PP) and carboxymethylated garlic polysaccharide (CMP) was successful. The sugar content of P, SP, PP and CMP was determined, and their degree of substitution was measured. Hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, superoxide anion scavenging ability, significant reduction capacity, and anti-lipid peroxidation ability of P, SP, PP, CMP and Vwere determined. It showed that the introduction of substituents had different effects on the antioxidant activities of P.

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PMID: 

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 11 27 ;15(12). Epub 2018 Nov 27. PMID: 30486374

Abstract Title: 

Effect of a Toothpaste/Mouthwash ContainingLeaf Extract on Interdental Gingival Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract: 

Clinical research on herbal-based dentifrice +/- mouth rinse products is very limited compared with the plethora of research on conventional oral care products under normal oral hygiene conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of a novel plantleaf extract (CPLE) on interdental bleeding in healthy subjects. In this randomized, single-blind parallel-design study, the eligible subjects were generally healthy non-smokers, aged 18⁻26, who exhibited healthy periodontal conditions upon study entry. The participants were equally randomized into the following four groups: CPLE dentifrice, CPLE dentifrice and mouthwash, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-free enzyme-containing dentifrice and SLS-free enzyme-containing dentifrice withessential oil (EO) mouthwash. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice a day without changing their other brushing habits. Interdental bleeding (BOIP) was measured from inclusion (T₀) until the fourth week (T₄) of the study. Clinical efficacy was assessed after one, two, three and four weeks of home use. The analyses compared BOIP between groups and were then restricted to participants with ≥70% and then ≥80% bleeding sites at T₀. Pairwise comparisons between groups were performed at T₀ and T₄, and a logistic regression identified correlates of gingival bleeding (T₄). Among 100 subjects (2273 interdental sites), the median percentage of bleeding sites per participant at T₀ was 65%. The bleeding sites dramatically decreased in all groups between T₀ and T₄ (relative variations from -54% to -75%,

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 Nov 10 ;11(11). Epub 2019 Nov 10. PMID: 31717643

Abstract Title: 

Z-ajoene from Crushed Garlic Alleviates Cancer-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy.

Abstract: 

Skeletal muscle atrophy is one of the major symptoms of cancer cachexia. Garlic (), one of the world's most commonly used and versatile herbs, has been employed for the prevention and treatment of diverse diseases for centuries. In the present study, we found that ajoene, a sulfur compound found in crushed garlic, exhibits protective effects against muscle atrophy. Using CT26 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice, we demonstrate in vivo that ajoene extract alleviated muscle degradation by decreasing not only myokines secretion but also janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) and SMADs/forkhead box (FoxO) signaling pathways, thereby suppressing muscle-specific E3 ligases. In mouse skeletal myoblasts, Z-ajoene enhanced myogenesis as evidenced by increased expression of myogenic markers via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. In mature myotubes, Z-ajoene protected against muscle protein degradation induced by conditioned media from CT26 colon carcinoma cells, by suppressing expression of muscle specific E3 ligases and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation which contribute to muscle atrophy. Moreover, Z-ajoene treatment improved myofiber formation via stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. These findings suggest that ajoene extract and Z-ajoene can attenuate skeletal muscle atrophy induced by cancer cachexia through suppressinginflammatory responses and the muscle wasting as well as by promoting muscle protein synthesis.

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PMID: 

Food Chem. 2019 Jun 30 ;284:245-253. Epub 2019 Jan 25. PMID: 30744853

Abstract Title: 

Allergenicity reduction of cow's milk proteins using latex peptidases.

Abstract: 

The present study evaluated four laticifer fluids as a novel source of peptidases capable of hydrolyzing proteins in cow's milk. The latex peptidases from Calotropis procera (CpLP), Cryptostegia grandiflora (CgLP), and Carica papaya (CapLP) were able to perform total hydrolysis of caseins after 30 min at pH 6.5, as confirmed by a significant reduction in the residual antigenicity. Casein hydrolysis by Plumeria rubra latex peptidases (PrLP) was negligible. Moreover, whey proteins were more resistant to proteolysis by latex peptidases; however, heat pretreatment of the whey proteins enhancedthe degree of hydrolysis and reduced the residual antigenicity of the hydrolysates. The in vivo assays show that the cow's milk proteins hydrolysed by CgLP and CapLP exhibited no immune reactions in mice allergic to cow's milk, similar to a commercial partially hydrolysed formula. Thus, these peptidases are promising enzymes for the development of novel hypoallergenic formulas for children with a milk allergy.

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