Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis Research Articles

Immunity Dynamics of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroups ACYW from Birth and Following Vaccination.

Background: Serosurveillance of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (ECM) in healthy individuals is crucial for assessing disease risk and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccinations. However, this practical work is rare in China. Methods: We conducted cross-section serosurveillance in Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Heyuan in Guangdong Province, measuring Anti-Nm IgG with serogroups A, C, Y, and W, and analyzed the trends using a generalized additive model (GAM). Results: During 2019-2022, 7752 participants were included. The overall antibody positivity rate for serogroups A, C, Y, and W were 60.75%, 15.51%, 32.83%, and 14.56%, respectively. High Anti-Nm IgG was in children aged 0-5 and 5-10 years old. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of Anti-Nm IgG were higher and correlated positively with vaccine doses compared with unvaccinated individuals. The GMC showed a consistent decrease trend in the vaccinated and a U-shaped curve in populations. The declined rates of GMC were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.14) µg/mL, 1.65 (95% CI: 1.28, 2.03), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.22, 1.03), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.53) µg/mL per year for serogroups A, C, Y, and W, respectively. Conclusions: There were differences in antibody positivity rate and GMC for the four serogroups of ECM in the healthy individuals of Guangdong Province, with serogroup A showing the highest, and the demographic differences highlighted the high seroprevalence of Neisseria meningitidis in younger people. The variable prevalence rates among serogroups A, C, Y, and W and the observed decline in antibody titers underscore the need for adjustments in the immunization program targeting the meningococcal vaccine.

Capillary Condensation Mediated Fluidic Straining for Enhanced Bacterial Inactivation

AbstractBiomaterials capable of continuously inactivating pathogens are essential for suppressing transmission of infectious diseases, such as epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis and pulmonary tuberculosis. Here, capillary condensation of air moisture within nano‐confined spaces between superhydrophilic rigid nanorods is shown and target microbiology spontaneously stretch and inactivate aerosolized microorganisms. Specifically, the negative Gaussian curvature‐shaped water condensate causes fluidic straining, comprising surface tension and Laplace pressure, strong enough to deform and eliminate the selected bacteria. Plate counting quantifies the sharply reduced contact‐killing period for superhydrophilic and bare nanorods (6 vs 100 min for E. coli, 20 vs 120 min for S. aureus) under relative humidity of 70%. Theoretical calculations and experimental studies indicate increased mechanical straining and mechano‐bactericidal by improving air moisture content. To further illustrate utility, long‐term antibacterial medical masks are fabricated by integrating such nanorods onto commercial fabrics. Collectively, these findings highlight the immense potential of capillary condensation‐induced fluidic straining as an eco‐friendly, broad‐spectrum, and highly efficient antibacterial strategy.

An Analytical Approach for Temporal Infection Mapping and Composite Index Development

Significant and composite indices for infectious disease can have implications for developing interventions and public health. This paper presents an investment for developing access to further analysis of the incidence of individual and multiple diseases. This research mainly comprises two steps: first, an automatic and reproducible procedure based on functional data analysis techniques was proposed for analyzing the dynamic properties of each disease; second, orthogonal transformation was adopted for the development of composite indices. Between 2000 and 2019, nineteen class B notifiable diseases in China were collected for this study from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The study facilitates the probing of underlying information about the dynamics from discrete incidence rates of each disease through the procedure, and it is also possible to obtain similarities and differences about diseases in detail by combining the derivative features. There has been great success in intervening in the majority of notifiable diseases in China, like bacterial or amebic dysentery and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, while more efforts are required for some diseases, like AIDS and virus hepatitis. The composite indices were able to reflect a more complex concept by combining individual incidences into a single value, providing a simultaneous reflection for multiple objects, and facilitating disease comparisons accordingly. For the notifiable diseases included in this study, there was superior management of gastro-intestinal infectious diseases and respiratory infectious diseases from the perspective of composite indices. This study developed a methodology for exploring the prevalent properties of infectious diseases. The development of effective and reliable analytical methods provides special insight into infectious diseases’ common dynamics and properties and has implications for the effective intervention of infectious diseases.

Epidemiological features and trends in the mortality rates of 10 notifiable respiratory infectious diseases in China from 2004 to 2020: Based on national surveillance.

The aim of this study is to describe, visualize, and compare the trends and epidemiological features of the mortality rates of 10 notifiable respiratory infectious diseases in China from 2004 to 2020. Data were obtained from the database of the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System (NIDSS) and reports released by the National and local Health Commissions from 2004 to 2020. Spearman correlations and Joinpoint regression models were used to quantify the temporal trends of RIDs by calculating annual percentage changes (APCs) in the rates of mortality. The overall mortality rate of RIDs was stable across China from 2004 to 2020 (R = -0.38, P = 0.13), with an APC per year of -2.2% (95% CI: -4.6 to 0.3; P = 0.1000). However, the overall mortality rate of 10 RIDs in 2020 decreased by 31.80% (P = 0.006) compared to the previous 5 years before the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest mortality occurred in northwestern, western, and northern China. Tuberculosis was the leading cause of RID mortality, and mortality from tuberculosis was relatively stable throughout the 17 years (R = -0.36, P = 0.16), with an APC of -1.9% (95% CI -4.1 to 0.4, P = 0.1000). Seasonal influenza was the only disease for which mortality significantly increased (R = 0.73, P = 0.00089), with an APC of 29.70% (95% CI 16.60-44.40%; P = 0.0000). The highest yearly case fatality ratios (CFR) belong to avian influenza A H5N1 [687.5 per 1,000 (33/48)] and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis [90.5748 per 1,000 (1,010/11,151)]. The age-specific CFR of 10 RIDs was highest among people over 85 years old [13.6551 per 1,000 (2,353/172,316)] and was lowest among children younger than 10 years, particularly in 5-year-old children [0.0552 per 1,000 (58/1,051,178)]. The mortality rates of 10 RIDs were relatively stable from 2004 to 2020 with significant differences among Chinese provinces and age groups. There was an increased mortality trend for seasonal influenza and concerted efforts are needed to reduce the mortality rate of seasonal influenza in the future.

Research progress on immunogenicity evaluation of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine

Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) is an acute respiratory infectious disease with high mortality and serious sequelae. Meningococcal vaccine is an effective measure to prevent and control meningococcal meningitis. At present, group B meningococcal meningitis has become the main prevalent serum group in the world, including China. Meningococcal ACYW and other vaccines are mainly composed of capsular polysaccharides, while the main component of group B meningococcal vaccine is protein, including outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and recombinant protein vaccine. The methods for evaluating the immunogenicity of group B meningococcal vaccine include hSBA and alternative methods such as meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS), flow cytometric meningococcal antigen surface expression assay (MEASURE), genetic meningococcal antigen typing system (gMATS) and bexsero antigen sequence type (BAST). The evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity is the basis of vaccine development and clinical trial research, However, at present, there is no group B meningococcal vaccine in China. Therefore, in this paper, the research progress of immunogenicity evaluation of group B meningococcal vaccine has been reviewed, in order to provide technical guidance for the research and development of group B meningococcal vaccine, immunogenicity evaluation and clinical trial research in China.

Epidemiological and etiological analysis of two infantile cases of serogroup B epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis epidemics in Shandong Province, 2021

Two cases of epidemic situation of serogroup B meningitis in infants in Shandong Province in 2021 were investigated. Samples of cases and their close contacts were collected for isolation, culture and identification of Neisseria meningitides (Nm). The isolates were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing, outer membrane protein porA and fetA genotyping and drug sensitivity test. Two laboratory-confirmed outbreaks of serogroup B meningitis were reported from Yantai city and Linyi city. The indicated cases were infants aged 5 months and 2 months old respectively. They were not vaccinated with meningitis vaccine. Their epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations were similar and the prognosis was good. The same sequence type (ST) of serogroup B Nm strains as the indicated cases was detected in the samples of close family contacts, but without subsequent cases. Among them, Yantai strain was were identified as the type ST-8920, belonging to CC4821 clonal complex, and the genotypes of porA and fetA were p1.21-2, 23 and F3-1. Linyi strain was a new type, belonging to CC4821 clonal complex and the genotypes of porA and fetA were p1.20, 23 and F1-91. The above strains were resistant to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and Chemitrim, and their sensitivity to cephalosporin decreased. Two cases of infant serogroup B epidemic were relatively rare in China, which were different from the epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of other Nm serogroups in the past.

Application and reflection of laboratory-based monitoring in early warning of infectious diseases

Despite the fact that our cognition towards infectious disease prevention, the advanced technology and the economic status of the whole society has made a great progress in the last decade, the outbreak of COVID-19 pneumonia has again enabled the public to acquire more about super-challenges of infectious diseases, epidemics and the relevant preventive measurements. In order to identify the epidemic signals in early stage or even before the onset of epidemic, the data research and utilization of a series of factors related to the occurrence and transmission of infectious diseases have played a significant role in research of prevention and control during the whole period of surveillance and early warning. Laboratory-based monitoring for the etiology has always been an important part of infectious disease warning system due to pathogens as the direct cause of such diseases. China has initially established a laboratory-based monitoring and early warning system for bacterial infectious diseases based on the Chinese Pathogen Identification Network with an aim to identify pathogens, outbreaks and sources. This network has played an essential role in early detection, tracking and precise prevention and control of bacterial infectious diseases, such as plague, cholera, and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. This issue focuses on the function of laboratory-based monitoring during the period of early warning, prevention, and control of bacterial infectious diseases, and conducted a wide range of researches based on the analysis of the epidemic and outbreak isolates, together with field epidemiological studies and normal monitoring systems. All of these could illustrate the effect of laboratory surveillance in the infectious disease risk assessment and epidemic investigation. At the same time, we have put forward our review and expectation of scenarios about laboratory-based monitoring and early warning technologies to provide innovative thoughts for promoting a leapfrog development of infectious disease monitoring and early warning system in China.

Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in children

We do not set out to describe all the symptoms of this disease, but only a few of them that were observed in the cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis that we described, established by bacteriological research, emphasizing only which are described as constant and which are most typical that they can be guided by when making a diagnosis in tѣkhъ conditions, where it is impossible to make a bacteriological study for any reason.

A new causative agent of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. As reported by the Bureau of the Public Health Service

According to the Bureau of the Public Health Service (Washington), over the past five years, the number of diseases in the United States has been epidemic. cerebrospin. meningitis was very high (numbers not indicated), exceeding the number of diseases in the period since the beginning of the worlds, war.

On the clinical course and therapy of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis

The material at our disposal embraces 32 cases: of which 12 cases we had to observe in the hospital. Chudnovsky for the months of February and March 1931.

Analysis of Neisseria Meningitidis carriage characteristics among healthy population in Shandong province from 2008 to 2020

Objective: To analyze the carriage characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) among healthy population of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in Shandong province. Methods: From April 2008 to April 2020, a total of 16 848 healthy population were recruited from Lixia District of Jinan City, Gaomi City of Weifang City, Jiaxiang County of Jining City, Wendeng District of Weihai City, Tancheng County of Linyi City and Linyi County of Dezhou City for the investigation.Throat swab samples were collected, Nm was isolated, cultured and identified, and Nm carrying characteristics of healthy population with different characteristics were analyzed. Results: Among the 16 848 healthy population, male accounted for 51.86% (8 737). A total of 136 Nm strains were isolated, and the carriage rate was 0.81%. Among the 136 Nm strains, serogroup B (60.29%) and ungroupable strains (23.53%) were dominant. Analysis of the Nm carriage rate, that were higher in the healthy population of Linyi (1.39%) and Jinan (1.14%), higher in 13-16 years old (1.60%) and 17-19 years old (1.10%) healthy population, and higher in male (1.02%). Conclusion: The Nm carriage rate of healthy population is relatively low in Shandong Province, and the proportion of serogroup B and ungroupable Nm is relatively high.

Inhibition effect of oxyepiberberine isolated from Coptis chinensis franch. On non-small cell lung cancer based on a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAs an important Chinese herb, Coptis chinensis Franch. (Huanglian, HL) has a long history of usage for clearing heat, eliminating dampness, purging fire and detoxification in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). HL, also called goldthread, was frequently used for the treatment of typhoid, tuberculosis, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, pertussis, and other lung-related diseases. Modern research has shown that HL and its main compounds also have anti-tumor effects. However, studies have not reported whether its main compounds inhibit Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and progression. ObjectiveThis study aimed to find out the potential targets and mechanisms of Oxyepiberberine (OPB) isolated from HL in the treatment of NSCLC, using network pharmacology and biological experimental. MethodsSilica gel chromatography column was used to isolate OPB from HL, and the structure of OPB was elucidated using different spectroscopic analysis methods, including 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). MTT assay was performed to determine cell proliferation of OPB on A549, H1975 and BEAS-2B cells. Then, the potential targets, pathways and hub genes of OPB for treating NSCLC were screened out through network pharmacology. Based on the results of network pharmacology, core targets of OPB for treating NSCLC were docking with OPB via molecular docking. Wound healing, plate clone, Hoechst staining, and western blot assay were used to verify the function of OPB in treatment of NSCLC. ResultsOPB was isolated from the HL, its molecular formula was identified as C20H17NO5. Through MTT, OPB significantly inhibited the proliferation of H1975 cells and A549 cells, and A549 was chosen as the test cancer cell. Through network pharmacology, 22 potential targets, 156 related-pathways, and 6 hub genes were screened out. The results of molecular docking showed that SRC, BRAF, and MMP9 were the core targets of OPB against NSCLC. Through biological experimental, it was found that OPB inhibited growth and migration of A549 cells. In addition, OPB induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Through western blot assay, the expressions of Src, ERK1/2 and other four proteins were down-regulated, which suggested that OPB inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells by down-regulating SRC-FAK-RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, so as to achieve the anti-NSCLC effect. ConclusionOur study demonstrated that anti-NSCLC effect of OPB through network and experiments, which provided a theoretical basis for the clinical antitumor of OPB, and provided a foundation for further study of OPB.

Historical review of the epidemic situation, prevention and control of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis during 1966 to 1967

During the winter and spring of 1966 to 1967, the nationwide revolution networking not only exerted great pressure on food, housing and transportation, but also triggered the most serious nationwide epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in history. The students of the revolution networking were the disseminators of the disease and the first group of patients. The unprecedented scale and scope of the epidemic, the destroyed medical and health order and other factors exacerbated the epidemic situation. Zhou Enlai restarted the " prevention and treatment by masses " mode to gradually control the epidemic. Fifty years later, looking back on the history of the epidemic situation and prevention and control of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, many problems are worth pondering deeply.

A preliminary study on the application of PspA as a carrier for group A meningococcal polysaccharide.

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) as a carrier protein. Three recombinant pneumococcal surface proteins from three different clades were expressed by the prokaryotic expression system and conjugated to group A meningococcal polysaccharide (GAMP) to generate three polysaccharide-protein conjugates. The conjugates, unconjugated proteins, GAMP, and GAMP-TT vaccine bulk (used as positive control) were immunized into mice, and their immune effects were assessed by the methods of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry (FCM), and serum bactericidal assay (SBA). The results showed that the polysaccharide-protein conjugates could produce higher levels of anti-GAMP IgG titers (P < 0.05), higher ratios of Th1/Th2 (P < 0.05), and higher levels of serum bactericidal activity (P < 0.05), compared with the unconjugated GAMP. The conjugation of PspAs to GAMP also enhanced the anti-PspA responses compared with unconjugated PspAs except for PspA3. In conclusion, the results indicated that the three PspAs were appropriate carrier proteins, as demonstrated by the characteristics of T-cell dependent responses to the GAMP, and might protect against group A of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.

Study on infectious diseases in Guizhou during the Republic of China

There are many infectious diseases in Guizhou Province during the Republican period, including cholera, smallpox, typhoid, typhus, dysentery, scarlet fever, diphtheria, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, recurrent fever, malaria, trachoma, acute conjunctivitis, skin diseases, venereal diseases, leprosy and so on. Natural and social factors together led to the prevalence of infectious diseases during that period. For example, natural factors mainly include Guizhou province's special geographical condition and its frequent flood disasters, and social factors such as the unhealthy lifestyle and low medical level have also caused bad effects. In general, infectious diseases during the Republican period have resulted in a large number of mortalities and great financial losses, hindering the development of Guizhou economic society at that time.

Analysis of current epidemiological and clinical characteristics for laboratory confirmed epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis cases in Shandong Province, 2007-2016

Objective: To analyze epidemiological and clinical characteristics of laboratory confirmed epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis cases. Methods: Epidemiological and clinical informations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood specimens of AMES (acute meningitis/encephalitis syndrome) cases were collected in the six sentinel hospitals from 2007 to 2016. neisseria meningitides (Nm) species and serogroup identification were detected by the methods of real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and bacterial culture, and epidemiological and clinical characteristics of laboratory confirmed epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis cases were analyzed. Results: 6 809 AMES cases were reported from 2007 to 2016. Total 4 422 cases were detected, and 90 cases were Nm positive. Through the methods of Real-time PCR, bacterial blood culture and CSF culture, the numbers of Nm positive cases were 90, 2 and 1 respectively. Twenty-two Nm cases were identified from 2007 to 2011 (4 cases were ungrouped), which with the highest incidence in serogroup C cases (17/18), and one cases was ungroupable Nm. Nm laboratory confirmed cases (68 cases) were increased dramatically and mainly occurred in serogroup B cases (43/67, 64.2%) from 2012 to 2016, with serogroup C cases highly decreased (5/67, 7.5%) and ungroupable Nm cases increased (13/67, 19.4%) meanwhile. Serogroup W135 and X cases were first detected at 2012 and 2014, and serogroup A remaining a low level which only detected one case at 2013. The morbidity of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis was occured in the whole year, and mainly in winter and spring. The ratio of Nm laboratory confirmed cases to AMES cases during November to May (3.5%, 67/1 920) was higher than that during June to October (0.9%, 23/2 502) (χ(2)=34.45, P<0.001). Most Nm cases were children, students and farmers, and account for 30.0% (27/90), 31.1% (28/90), 18.9% (17/90), respectively. The majority of Nm cases were under 20 years old (60/90, 66.67%), and serogroup C cases (17/22, 77.3%) mainly occurred in over 12 years old population, while serogroup B (24/43, 55.8%) and ungroupable (6/14) cases mainly occurred in under 12 years old population. The main clinical symptoms of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis cases were fever (78/90, 86.7%), headache (59/90, 65.6%) and vomiting (51/90, 56.7%). Misdiagnosis rate of admitting diagnosis was up to 87.8% (79/90) for the reason of atypical features in specific symptoms and blood or CSF positive index. The well-healed ratio in correct diagnosed group (7/11) was higher than that in misdiagnosed group (2.5%, 2/79) (χ(2)=40.61, P<0.001). Conclusion: The clinical symptoms of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis cases were atypical, and the diagnosed sensitivity and accuracy would be improved by enhanced molecular biology detection. The predominant epidemic serogroup of Nm switched from serogroup C to B, and the key work was surveaylance of serogroup transition.

Changing Pattern of Childhood Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis in North-Western Nigeria.

Introduction:Nigeria lies within the meningitis belt which extends from the Gambia, Senegal through Nigeria to Eritrea; however, outbreaks have been shown to extend further south involving countries such as Angola and Namibia. Epidemic outbreaks are often recorded every 8–12 years averaging in a 10 yearly circle however endemic cases still occurs.Materials and Methods:The study was retrospective; all results of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of children with cases of meningitis from January 2010 to December 2010 were collected from the register of the microbiology laboratory of General Hospital Gusau. Relevant information such as their age, sex, CSF macroscopy/microscopy reports, latex particle agglutination test report, and CSF culture report were retrieved and entered into a pro forma.Results:There were 89 (73%) males and 33 (27%) females with male to female ratio of 2.7:1. The age ranged from 2 months to 14 years; the mean was 6.27 ± 4.00 years. Meningitis was mostly recorded from January to April. W135 was the most common serotype identified. Majority of the samples (54) which were nonreactive for any of the tested antigens had clear CSF (36), while among those that reacted; the W135 group had a high proportion of cases that had turbid CSF (44); (Fisher's exact test = 30.650, P = 0.000). Majority of the samples (99) had no cell count; although those of the W135 group had higher cell counts followed by those in the nonreactive group (Fisher's exact test = 11.226, P = 0.181).Conclusion:Meningitis was highest between January and April, and W135 was the most common serotype.

贵州省流行性脑脊髓膜炎实验室监测结果分析

目的：了解引起贵州省流脑暴发和流行的主要菌群、菌群分布特征、菌株耐药特性，了解健康人群流脑免疫水平状况，为流脑防控提供科学依据。方法：对报告病例采集的脑脊液和/或血液标本、健康人群咽拭子标本和血清标本进行实验室检测和结果分析。结果：1) 2006年全省共报告疑似流脑病例243例，采集123例报告病例脑脊液和/或血液(清)标本共167份。共检测出流脑阳性病例42例，其中A群病例占90.5%。2) 采集健康人群咽拭子标本共726份，分离培养出A群脑膜炎奈瑟菌(Nm)2株，B群1株，健康人群中Nm的带菌率为0.41%。3) 采集健康人群血清标本共715份，流脑A群IgG抗体阳性率62.0%，流脑C群IgG抗体阳性率43.1%。4) Nm菌株药物敏感性检测结果为，流行菌株除对磺胺类和氧氟沙星类药物耐药和部分敏感外，对其余10种常用抗生素均100%敏感。结论：1) 目前引起贵州省流脑暴发和流行的主要菌群仍然为A群Nm；健康人群中Nm以A群为主；2) 健康人群流脑免疫水平不高，小年龄组(5岁以下)抗体水平偏低，尤其是流脑C群抗体水平较低。3) 应加强我省重点地区、重点人群流脑的预防控制、疫情监测和病原学监测工作。 Objective: To understand the main bacteria group, serogroup distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria meningitides (Nm) result in the outbreak and epidemic of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis (ECM), and to know the situation of population immunity against ECM, so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of ECM in Guizhou Province. Methods: Carry out the laboratory test to the serum and/or CSF specimens from reported ECM cases, as well as the throat swabs and serum specimens from healthy people, And made an anal-ysis to the test result. Results: 1) 243 cases with ECM were reported in 2006, and a total of 167 serum and/or CSF samples were collected from 123 reported ECM cases. After detection, it showed that there were 42 ECM confirmed cases with 34.1% positive ratio of Nm detection and 17.3% lab confirmed ratio of ECM cases in all reported cases. Among them, ECM cases of sero-group A accounted for 90.5%. 2) 726 throat swabs samples were collected, and 3 Nm strains were isolated including 2 serogroup A and 1 serogroup B with 0.41% carrier rate of Nm patho-gen in healthy people. 3) 715 serum samples were collected. After detection, the positive rate of serogroup A antibody was 62.0%. The positive rate of serogroup C antibody was 43.1%. 4) In addition to drug resistance and part sensitive to Sulfa and Levofloxacin drugs, the epidemic strains were 100% sensitive to the other 10 kinds of common antibiotics. Conclusion: 1) The major dominant strains were still Serogroup A Neisseria meningitides in ECM cases, and sero-group A was the dominant strain in healthy people yet. 2) The immune level of Nm was not high in the healthy people. Small age group (under the age of 5 years) antibody level was lower. Es-pecially, the level of serogroup C antibody was very low. 3) It is suggested that it should streng-then the prevention and control, supervision and etiological surveillance of ECM to the key areas and key population in Guizhou province.

Analysis for protection rate and antibody levels of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis among children aged between 3-23 months in Liuzhou, in 2012

Objective: To understand the level of bactericidal antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis and their rate of protection in children aged between 3 and 23 months, in Liuzhou, in 2012. Methods: Convenience sampling was performed in Liujiang, Rong'an and Sanjiang Counties from May through August, 2012. The inclusion criteria for 603 subjects were: Children aged between 3 and 23 months; no history of meningococcal meningitis; no vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C; more than 30 days from the last vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A. Demographic information and immunization history of the subjects were obtained using questionnaires. Venous blood samples (2.0 ml each) were collected and levels of Neisseria meningitides antibodies determined using a Serum Bactericidal Assay (SBA). The geometric mean titer (GMT) of serum bacterial antibodies was positive when it was greater than or equal to 1∶2 and protective when greater than 1∶8. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare differences in the positive and protective rates of serum antibodies of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, among children with different demographic characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare differences in the GMT of serum antibodies of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, among children with different demographic characteristics. Results: Of 603 subjects, 325 (53.9%) were female and 278 (46.1%) were male; 276 (45.8%), 143 (23.7%) and 184 (30.5%) subjects were administered, respectively, no treatment, 1 dose vaccine and 2 doses vaccine. The GMT of serum antibodies against group A Neisseria meningitidis was 1∶1.11, the positive rate was 7.6% (46) and the protective rate was 2.0% (12). The GMT of antibodies in children receiving 1 vaccine dose was 1∶1.16 and the protective rate was 3.5% (5), both values higher than those in children receiving 2 vaccine doses (GMT: 1∶1.2, protective rate: 3.5% (5)). However, these differences were not statistically significant (GMT: H=0.64, P=0.728; protective rate: Fisher's exact test, P= 0.080). The GMT of antibodies in children receiving 1 and 2 doses of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines were 1∶1.12 and 1∶2.30, respectively (≤180 d). The GMT of serum antibodies for group C meningococcal vaccine was 1∶1.18 and its positive and protective rates were 14.6% (88) and 2.2% (13), respectively. Conclusion: Children aged between 3 and 23 months are susceptible to Neisseria meningitidis groups A and C. The immune effectiveness of group A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is relatively poor in this age group and their antibody levels decreased rapidly.

The effects of Baekho-tang on 1-Fluoro-2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced allergic contact dermatitis in BALB/c mice

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a cutaneous inflammatory response that is characterized skin lesion, increased cytokines secretion and splenomegaly. Baekho-tang (BHT) has been clinically used for the treatment of heat-related illnesses in Korea. Recently, it was reported that has an effect on epidemics such as hepatitis B, pneumonia, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis and Japanese encephalitis. However, the effects of BHT on ACD is not yet fully studied. Therefore, the aims of this study was to determine the anti-allergic effects of BHT on 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced ACD mice by investigating histopathologic examination of DNFB-induced inflamed tissues. Also, cytokines secretion in serum was determined using multiplex assay. The topical repeated application of DNFB on the dorsal skin of BALB/c mice were manifested the typical ACD. Treatment of different dose of BHT (20 or 80 mg/kg) attenuated DNFB-induced inflamed tissues such as erythema and crust. In addition, there is a trend for decreased serum cytokines levels in the treatment of high dose of BHT. Our results recommend that the high dose of BHT enhances the DNFB-induced ACD in mice.