Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Travel Med 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

The Center for Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, 52621, Israel.

Background: In recent years, multiple outbreaks of measles associated with vaccine hesitancy occurred in high-income countries, where measles incidence had previously been low. Most safety data about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are derived from studies conducted among children, whereas evidence regarding the safety profile of the vaccine in adults is scarce.

Methods: In 2017, during an outbreak of measles in Europe, Israeli travellers to high-risk locations who were incompletely vaccinated, were urged to complete the two MMR vaccination schedule before their travel. Read More

Expert Rev Vaccines 2021 Jun 7:1-17. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

GSK, Avenue Fleming 20, 1300 Wavre, Belgium.

: Measles, mumps, and rubella incidence decreased drastically following vaccination programs' implementation. However, measles and mumps' resurgence was recently reported, outbreaks still occur, and challenges remain to control these diseases.: This qualitative narrative review provides an objective appraisal of the literature regarding current challenges in controlling measles, mumps, rubella infections, and interventions to address them. Read More

PLoS One 2021 2;16(6):e0252198. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.

Once an obscure pathogen, Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a significant global public health concern. Several studies have linked ZIKV infection in pregnant women with the development of microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities, emphasizing the need for a safe and effective vaccine to combat the spread of this disease. Preclinical studies and vaccine development efforts have largely focused on the role of humoral immunity in disease protection. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 May 24;9(6). Epub 2021 May 24.

Clinical Neurology Research Group, Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.

In the UK, population virus or antibody testing using virus swabs, serum samples, blood spots or oral fluids has been performed to a limited extent for several diseases including measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis and HIV. The collection of population-based infection and immunity data is key to the monitoring of disease prevalence and assessing the effectiveness of interventions such as behavioural modifications and vaccination. In particular, the biological properties of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its interaction with the human host have presented several challenges towards the development of population-based immunity testing. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 May 27;9(6). Epub 2021 May 27.

Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) still determine significant morbidity and mortality, although a highly effective vaccine is available. Postponing the MMR vaccination until 6 months after the last red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is recommended, but this delay is incompatible with chronic transfusions. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of blood transfusions on the immunogenicity of the MMR vaccine. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 May 8;9(5). Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.

In China, there are two categories of vaccines available from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and associated public health agencies. Extended Program of Immunization (EPI) vaccines are government-funded and non-EPI vaccines are voluntary and paid for out-of-pocket. The government plans to transition some non-EPI vaccines to EPI in the coming years, which may burden public health system capacity, particularly in terms of budget, workforce, supply chains, and information systems. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 May 8;9(5). Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Physiology, 567 Wilson Road, Room 1104 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

This study examines the relationship of pneumococcal vaccination rates, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccinations (DTP), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (tuberculosis) vaccination rates to COVID-19 case and death rates for 51 nations that have high rates of COVID-19 testing and for which nearly complete childhood, at-risk adult and elderly pneumococcal vaccination data were available. The study is unique in a large number of nations examined, the range of vaccine controls, in testing effects of combinations of vaccinations, and in examining the relationship of COVID-19 and vaccination rates to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Analysis of Italian regions and the states of the United States were also performed. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 May 12;9(5). Epub 2021 May 12.

Ewha Education and Research Center for Infection, Seoul 07985, Korea.

We aimed to identify the presence of the measles IgG antibody (mIgG-Ab) in healthcare personnel and finding out who needs the measles vaccination. The history of measles vaccination was obtained from the national vaccine registry. A baseline mIgG-Ab test was performed, and the measles vaccine was administered to participants who tested negative or equivocal for mIgG-Abs. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 13;11:688755. Epub 2021 May 13.

The Anticancer Fund, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium.

Vaccines used to prevent infections have long been known to stimulate immune responses to cancer as illustrated by the approval of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine to treat bladder cancer since the 1970s. The recent approval of immunotherapies has rejuvenated this research area with reports of anti-tumor responses with existing infectious diseases vaccines used as such, either alone or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we have reviewed and summarized research activities using approved vaccines to treat cancer. Read More

Vaccine 2021 May 23. Epub 2021 May 23.

RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States; Southern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States.

Background: Understanding the safety of vaccines is critical to inform decisions about vaccination. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the safety of vaccines recommended for children, adults, and pregnant women in the United States.

Methods: We searched the literature in November 2020 to update a 2014 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality review by integrating newly available data. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2021 May;46(9):2304-2308

Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 200032, China.

Antiviral Oral Liquid is modified on the basis of Baihu Decoction in Treatise on Febrility Diseases by ZHANG Zhongjing and Qingwen Baidu Yin in Qing Dynasty, with effects in clearing toxic heat, repelling dampness and cooling blood. It is widely used in clinical treatment of common colds, influenza and upper respiratory tract infection, mumps, viral conjunctivitis and hand-foot-mouth disease, with a good clinical efficacy and safety. Based on a questionnaire survey of clinicians and a systematic review of study literatures on Antiviral Oral Liquid, the international clinical practice guidelines development method was adopted to analyze the optimal available evidences and expert experiences in the "evidence-based, consensus-based and experience-based" principles. Read More

Prim Health Care Res Dev 2021 May 27;22:e20. Epub 2021 May 27.

School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, Northampton Square, LondonEC1V 0HB, UK.

Aim: We aimed to understand practice nurses' perceptions about how they engage with parents during consultations concerning the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Background: The incidence of measles is increasing globally. Immunisation is recognised as the most significant intervention to influence global health in modern times, although many factors are known to adversely affect immunisation uptake. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021 May 22. Epub 2021 May 22.

Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.

Background: Rubella virus-induced granulomas have been described in patients with various inborn errors of immunity. Most defects impair T-cell immunity, suggesting a critical role of T cells in rubella elimination. However, the molecular mechanism of virus control remains elusive. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2021 06;119(3):198-201

División Promoción y Protección de la Salud, Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde (HGNPE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Introduction: The reduction in the number of visits to health care centers since the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may affect mandatory vaccination.

Objective: To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the administration of the pentavalent and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines to children younger than 2 years at the vaccination center of a children's hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

Method: Cross-sectional study using the vaccination center's digital records from January to May 2019 and 2020. Read More

Vaccine 2021 Jun 20;39(26):3480-3485. Epub 2021 May 20.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Objective: Healthcare personnel vaccinations are important to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases in hospitals. We evaluated the seroprevalence, vaccination rates, and barriers to vaccination among newly employed nurses and doctors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in the Republic of Korea from 2017 to 2020. Read More

J Midwifery Womens Health 2021 May 22. Epub 2021 May 22.

River & Mountain Midwives, New Paltz, New York.

Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious virus. Vaccination has nearly eradicated measles in the United States, yet sporadic outbreaks persist. Although the live-attenuated measles, mumps, rubella vaccine has not been found to cause fetal harm, pregnancy is considered a contraindication for the vaccine and contracting measles during pregnancy can have serious sequelae. Read More

Euro Surveill 2021 May;26(20)

University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.

BackgroundIn Belgium, rubella serology is frequently requested in women of childbearing age, despite high vaccination coverage and a near-absence of congenital rubella cases. Different test kits are available and should be standardised by an international standard preparation.AimTo analyse and compare rubella serology practices in Belgian laboratories. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2021 May 19;14(1):263. Epub 2021 May 19.

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.

Background: The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a worldwide distribution and a very wide host range, infecting most warm-blooded hosts. Approximately 30% of humanity is infected with T. gondii, but clinical toxoplasmosis is relatively infrequent. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2021 May 17;36(19):e126. Epub 2021 May 17.

Department Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

Prev Med Rep 2021 Jun 16;22:101376. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Sanofi Pasteur, Calle de Martínez Villergas, 52, 28027 Madrid, Spain.

Vaccination is an effective health intervention for the prevention of infectious diseases. This study aims to evaluate the response provided by nurses toward the use of ready-to-use (RTU) formulations of hexavalent vaccines and measures to prevent errors during the vaccination process. This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study took place from March to May 2018. Read More

Int J Gen Med 2021 7;14:1757-1762. Epub 2021 May 7.

Head of Provincial Public Health Department, Hatay, Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of booster vaccination of adults with measles-mumps-rubella in the COVID-19 infection rates.

Methods: In order to investigate this hypothesis, we tested COVID-19 positivity rate through PCR assay on the participants (n=245; male), who had to share the same student accommodation together with the same dining hall to provide governmental service. Participants were divided into two groups based on their booster vaccination status with measles-mumps-rubella: the non-vaccinated group (n=207) and the vaccinated group (n=38). Read More

Vaccine 2021 Jun 13;39(26):3509-3515. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Expanded Programme on Immunization, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address:

Background: Mumps outbreaks in adolescents who received two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) during childhood have been reported worldwide. In China, one dose of MMR administered in children aged among 18-24 months has a limited effect on the mumps epidemic. There are limited prospective studies evaluating the mumps immunity profile of children aged 3-7 years who received one dose of MMR. Read More

Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2021 Jun 27;69(3):105-115. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Observatoire régional de la santé (ORS) Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 27, boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.

Background: Starting in spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic markedly impacted the French healthcare system. Lockdown and risks of exposure to the coronavirus induced patients to modify their ways of use. The objective of this article was to share feedback on the implementation of a real-time monitoring system concerning (a) the activity of private practitioners in southeastern France, and (b) the evolution of reimbursements for drugs prescribed to persons with diabetes, for treatment of mental health disorders, and for performance of some vaccines. Read More

J AAPOS 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrij Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

A 5-year-old boy presented with periorbital swelling due to craniofacial emphysema after a dental procedure. Computed tomography also revealed emphysema of the mediastinum. Pneumoparotitis and anesthesia mumps were considered in the differential diagnosis; however, Stensen's duct as well as the parotid itself appeared normal. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Background and aim HIV infection increases the risk of serious disease resulting from common vaccine-preventable infections. Vaccinations are particularly important for HIV infected adults. We aimed to investigate the immunity rates against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, B and tetanus in newly diagnosed HIV patients. Read More

Liver Int 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.

Background: Failure of immunologic homeostasis and resultant hepatocyte destruction in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is likely the result of environmental triggers within a permissive genetic architecture.

Aims: We aimed to identify risk factors associated with AIH in a well-phenotyped AIH cohort.

Methods: We prospectively collected environmental questionnaires from 358 AIH cases and 563 healthy controls. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Previous studies have found that particulate matter (PM) pollution is a risk factor for respiratory disease by affecting body's immunity and carrying microorganisms. This study aimed to explore the association between PM and the incidence of mumps in 31 provinces from China. Monthly mumps cases, air pollution concentration, and meteorological factors in each province were obtained between January 2014 to December 2017. Read More

bioRxiv 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

T cells are critical for control of viral infection and effective vaccination. We investigated whether prior Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) or Tetanus-Diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccination elicit cross-reactive T cells that mitigate COVID-19. Using co-cultures of antigen presenting cells (APC) loaded with antigens and autologous T cells, we found a high correlation between responses to SARS-CoV-2 (Spike-S1 and Nucleocapsid) and MMR and Tdap vaccine proteins in both SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and individuals immunized with mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Read More

Digestion 2021 May 10:1-9. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of infection and are frequently not up to date with their immunizations.

Objectives: This study aims to review vaccination status and evaluate whether age, disease type, or treatment regimen could predict the absence of seroprotection against selected vaccine-preventable infection in adults with IBD.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using questionnaire, immunization records review, and assessment of tetanus-specific, varicella-specific, and measles-specific immunoglobulin G concentrations. Read More

J Virol Methods 2021 May 3;294:114176. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Electronic address:

Recently there has been a significant increase in the number of mumps outbreaks occurring in highly vaccinated populations. These outbreaks are often due to a mumps genotype G virus, where sequencing of the SH gene does not reveal enough genetic diversity to sufficient to resolve outbreaks. This has elevated the need to be able to sequence complete mumps viruses from clinical samples without laborious methods. Read More