Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-266).

No description available.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Introduction: Thousands of people die from influenza or its complications each year despite the fact that it is one of the few vaccine preventable diseases. Immunocompromised cancer patients are among the most vulnerable to this infection and flu‐related complications, and therefore vaccination is highly recommended in these patients; however, current vaccination rates and attitudes towards vaccination remain unknown. We hypothesize that immunization rates are lower than the 100% recommendation rate, and hope to understand the reasoning behind the discrepancy. The purpose of this study is to assess cancer patient attitudes towards influenza vaccination in an effort to minimize barriers to vaccination and eventually increase vaccination rates in this immunocompromised population. Methods: Cancer patients enrolled in phase I clinical oncology trials at the Virginia G Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare were invited to participate in a voluntary survey. The 15‐item survey consisted of demographic information, knowledge regarding the flu vaccine, vaccination status after cancer diagnosis and while on treatment, and general attitudes towards vaccination. A total of 84 cancer patients completed the survey. Results were stratified by age, gender, education level, and vaccination status. As this was a descriptive study, no statistical analyses were performed. Results: A total of 84 (n=84) advanced cancer patients enrolled in phase I clinical oncology trials completed the survey. Results indicate that although 71% of patients received the vaccine prior to cancer diagnosis, only 58% of patients have received the vaccine since their cancer diagnosis, and only 48% have been vaccinated while on cancer treatment. Of those vaccinated since cancer diagnosis, 94% reported doctor recommendation of the vaccine and most vaccinate to protect themselves from the virus. Of those not vaccinated since cancer diagnosis, only 37% report their doctor recommends the vaccine and the majority avoid vaccination because they believe the vaccine can cause the flu, they do not feel at risk of infection, and they do not believe the vaccine is effective. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that although the CDC strongly recommends influenza vaccination in cancer patients due to the risk of secondary complications and even death in these immunocompromised individuals, vaccination rates remain low. Our data demonstrates that patients who receive a doctor recommendation for the vaccine are more likely to be vaccinated, but not all doctors recommend the vaccine. Furthermore, false information regarding the vaccine, its efficacy, and its ability to cause infection continues to deter patients from vaccination. Together, this information offers profound insight into the cancer patient population and suggests the need for increased physician and patient education regarding the benefits of annual influenza vaccination to improve vaccination rates and decrease influenza infection and complications in the future.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Respiratory virus infections, such as those caused by influenza, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both the developed and developing world. Currently, the main means of control of influenza virus infection is vaccination, which requires advanced knowledge of the strain that will be prevalent each year. Alternative strategies involve the use of anti-viral drugs, which function primarily as a prophylactic. Currently, there are five main drugs available against influenza, the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantidine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir and peramivir). However, major problems exist with antivirals, notably the development of drug resistance. This means that new drugs are urgently required that also satisfy the need to intervene at specific phases of the infection. This thesis describes the development of a peptide with anti-influenza virus activity (Flupep), from which a library of closely related peptides were synthesised, with the aim of optimising antiviral efficacy. Peptides were tested in vitro using a plaque reduction assay on cultured cell lines, Vero and MDCK for parainfluenza and influenza respectively. Two strains of influenza and two of parainfluenza were used, covering the main subtypes that infect humans: Influenza A, Influenza B, PIV2 and PIV3. The plaque assay involved mixing a fixed dose of virus with dilutions of peptide and infecting the cultured cells, followed by incubation for between 3 and 14 days. The cells were then fixed, stained and plaques counted as a measure of viral infectivity. Previous work had shown that Flupep both interacts with haemagglutinin and is an antagonist of inflammatory cytokines. As a possible explanation for antiviral activity, binding affinity of the peptide to haemagglutinin was measured utilising enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. However, significant binding was not detected, suggesting non-specific binding and anti-inflammatory potential are more important routes for antiviral activity. Peptides which demonstrated greater than 90% plaque knockdown in vitro were evaluated in vivo. Anaesthetised mice were infected with influenza A and administered with the peptide concurrently. Following infection, body weights were measured daily and clinical signs, such as shortness of breath, quality of coat and posture, were monitored as indicators of overall health. Most mice were culled on the seventh day post-infection and lung viral titres were determined using a plaque assay. Two peptides were identified with high efficacy against influenza. These peptides, when used in vivo, improved clinical signs of and dramatically reduced levels of infectious virus in the lungs by 7 days post infection. The peptide with highest efficacy was PEGylated and subsequently shown to possess therapeutic potential. Intranasal administration of the PEG-peptide to anaesthetised mice, on the two days subsequent to infection with influenza A, revealed a 17-fold fall in lung viral titres by the fourth day post-infection. Overall, Flupep demonstrates great potential as a future therapeutic agent for treatment of Influenza and potentially Parainfluenza.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Also available in print.

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate the usability and credibility of an informational website about the influenza vaccination. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of user’s reactions to a website. Questionnaires administered during a regularly scheduled class collected ratings of the usability and credibility of an informational website about the influenza vaccination; data on vaccination status, year in pharmacy school and plans for future vaccination were also collected. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 8 students. Eighty-eight percent of participants were in their 3rd year of pharmacy school and 62% received the influenza vaccination in the past season. Only one participant had used the internet to access information about vaccines in the past. The means scores for the 9 usability and credibility statements were between 2 to 2.9 indicating agreement with the statements. CONCLUSION: The influenza website is easy to navigate and provides a source of credible information about the influenza vaccination.