From Google Scholar & other sources: Selected Journal Articles, Newsletters, Dissertations, Theses, Commentary

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000228
Immunizing adolescents: a selected review of recent literature and US recommendations
Schneyer, Rebecca J.; Yang, Catherina; Bocchini, Joseph A. Jr.
Abstract
Purpose of review:
To provide a clinically relevant synopsis of the latest research and recommendations regarding adolescent immunizations.
Recent findings:
Immunization is an important and effective strategy for preventing morbidity and mortality in adolescents. Although there has been progress in recent years, coverage rates in the US remain suboptimal, particularly for the human papillomavirus vaccine. Much work has been done to better understand and address the barriers to adolescent immunization, so that all teens may be protected against serious vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, several recent studies have focused on the effectiveness of current adolescent vaccines and the development of new vaccines to protect against additional types of human papillomavirus and serotype B Neisseria meningitidis. Decreased pertussis vaccine effectiveness has led to new recommendations for pregnant women, including adolescents, to protect them and their young infants. The present review highlights selected literature on acellular pertussis, meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines. Research findings on various strategies to improve adolescent vaccine uptake are also discussed in this review.
Summary:
Research on adolescent immunizations and their delivery continues to have an impact on clinical practice and will shape future guidelines. Through this work, we can learn how best to protect adolescents against vaccine-preventable diseases.

..
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000162
Improving the outcome of bacterial meningitis in newborn infants in Africa: reflections on recent progress
Molyneux, Elizabeth M.; Dube, Queen; Newberry, Laura
Abstract
Purpose of review:
There has been a reduction in overall under fives mortality (UFM) but neonatal mortality has not fallen at the same rate as for older children. Bacterial meningitis remains a common, often unrecognized and devastating illness in many African newborns with high mortality and morbidity. Further progress in reducing UFM has to focus on quality of care for neonates. Recent efforts to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcome are reviewed.
Recent findings:
Diagnosis is often unsupported by laboratory tests and efforts have been made to improve the clinical diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Simpler, robust bedside tests are being devised. The cause of bacterial meningitis is changing and first-line antimicrobial therapy and adjuvant therapies are evaluated. Programmes to reduce risk factors and prevent neonatal infections are identified.
Summary:
Neonatal care needs to improve in first referral hospitals with simple, low-cost, validated measures provided as bundles of care for both mother and child. First-line antibiotic therapy must be reconsidered in the light of increased infections by multiresistant and Gram-negative bacteria. Studies are needed for effective and safe lengths of antimicrobial therapy, the role of adjuvant therapy and the best anticonvulsants to use.

.
AIDS
Post Acceptance: April 17, 2015
doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000689
Immunogenicity and safety of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-infected individuals naive to pneumococcal vaccination.
Bhorat, As’ad E.; Madhi, Shabir A.; Laudat, France; Sundaraiyer, Vani; Gurtman, Alejandra; Jansen, Kathrin U.; Scott, Daniel A.; Emini, Emilio A.; Gruber, William C.; Schmoele-Thoma, Beate
Abstract
Objective: Immunocompromised individuals are at an increased risk of pneumococcal disease. Vaccination is recommended as an important strategy to reduce risk of pneumococcal disease in HIV-infected individuals. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of three 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) doses followed by one dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at 1-month intervals in pneumococcal vaccine-naive, HIV-infected individuals.
Design: This was a phase 3, open-label, single-arm study.
Methods: Pneumococcal vaccine-naive, HIV-infected individuals at least 6 years of age with CD4+ T cell count at least 200 cells/[mu]l and viral load less than 50 000 copies/ml received three doses of PCV13 followed by one dose of PPSV23 at 1-month intervals. Serotype-specific antipneumococcal immune responses were assessed by IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) assay geometric mean titres (GMTs) after each dose. Local reactions at the PCV13 injection site, systemic and other adverse events were collected.
Results: Three hundred and one individuals were enrolled and vaccinated; 279 completed the study. Statistically significant increases in IgG GMCs and OPA GMTs were observed for all serotypes after dose 1 of PCV13 compared with prevaccine levels. GMCs and GMTs were comparable or only modestly increased for all serotypes after PCV13 doses 2 and 3 and after PPSV23. The majority of local reactions and systemic events were mild to moderate in severity.
Conclusion: A three-dose regimen of PCV13 was well tolerated in pneumococcal vaccine-naive, HIV-infected individuals. Significant immune responses to all serotypes were observed following the first dose of PCV13, with only modest increases in antibody titres following subsequent PCV13 or PPSV23 administration.
Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Advance Access
10.1093/jpids/piv017
Immunogenicity of Two Different Sequential Schedules of Inactivated Polio Vaccine Followed by Oral Polio Vaccine Versus Oral Polio Vaccine Alone in Healthy Infants in China
Rong-Cheng Li1,a, Chang-Gui Li2,a, Hai-Bo Wang3,a, Hui-Min Luo3, Yan-Ping Li1, Jian-Feng Wang2, Zhi-Fang Ying2, Wen-Zhou Yu3, Jean Denis Shu4, Ning Wen3 and Emmanuel Vidor5
Author Affiliations
1Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanning, China
2National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, China
3Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
4Sanofi Pasteur, Beijing, China
5Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France
Abstract
Background
Two vaccination schedules where inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was followed by oral polio vaccine (OPV) were compared to an OPV-only schedule.
Methods
Healthy Chinese infants received a 3-dose primary series of IPV-OPV-OPV (Group A), IPV-IPV-OPV (Group B), or OPV-OPV-OPV (Group C) at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. At pre-Dose 1, 1-month, and 14-months post-Dose 3, polio 1, 2, and 3 antibody titers were assessed by virus-neutralizing antibody assay with Sabin or wild-type strains. Adverse events were monitored.
Results
Anti-polio 1, 2, and 3 titers were ≥8 (1/dil) in >99% of participants, and Group A and Group B were noninferior to Group C at 1-month post-Dose 3 as assessed by Sabin strain-based assay (SSBA). In Group A 1-month post-Dose 3, there was no geometric mean antibody titers (GMT) differences for types 1 and 3; type 2 GMTs were ≈3-fold higher by wild-type strain-based assay (WTBA) versus SSBA. For Group B, GMTs were ≈1.7- and 3.6-fold higher for types 1 and 2 via WTBA, while type 3 GMTs were similar. For Group C, GMTs were ≈6.3- and 2-fold higher for types 1 and 3 with SSBA, and type 2 GMTs were similar. Antibodies persisted in >96.6% of participants. Adverse event incidence in each group was similar.
Conclusions
A primary series of 1 or 2 IPV doses followed by 2 or 1 OPV doses was immunogenic and noninferior to an OPV-only arm. SSBA was better at detecting antibodies elicited by OPV with antibody titers correlated to the number of OPV doses (NCT01475539).