INTRODUCTION Pneumococcal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and are associated with considerable economic burden on health systems. To prevent pneumococcal infections, 7-valent conjugate vaccines have been available for over a decade; more recently, 10- and 13-valent conjugate vaccines have been formulated, which are more immunogenic than vaccines with capsular polysaccharides only. In Cuba, a new vaccine candidate has been developed, PCV7-TT, a conjugate of tetanus toxoid with antigens of seven of the serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae with highest circulation in Cuba and in the world: 1, 5, 6B, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. OBJECTIVE Assess the safety of the vaccine candidate PCV7-TT in healthy adults and conduct a preliminary assessment of its immunogenicity. METHODS A phase I, double-blind clinical trial was performed at the National Toxicology Center in Havana, Cuba. Healthy male volunteers aged 18–35 years were randomly assigned to two groups: 20 received the vaccine candidate PCV7-TT and 20 the polyvalent antipneumococcal vaccine PNEUMO-23 used as control, each in a single intramuscular dose. To assess safety, the occurrence of adverse events was monitored for 30 days following inoculation. To explore immunogenicity, concentrations of serotype-specific antibodies was quantified before and 30 days after inoculation, as well titers of opsonophagocytic antibodies. (National Clinical Trial Registry RPCEC00000133) RESULTS Local adverse events were pain, redness, induration, increased sensitivity to touch, and warmth in the injection area. Pain was registered in 70% of individuals who received PCV7-TT and in 75% of those vaccinated with PNEUMO-23. Reported systemic adverse events were general malaise, headache and drowsiness. All adverse events appeared in the first 72 hours post inoculation and lasted no longer than 3 days. One event was reported that was classified as severe in intensity and serious in consequences, but it was unrelated to vaccination—acute appendicitis in one individual inoculated with the control vaccine. Before vaccination, all participants but one had antibody concentrations ≥0.20 μg/ml against the vaccine strains; after vaccination 100% of individuals were positive and the concentrations of antibodies increased in previously positive volunteers. Some individuals had opsonophagocytic antibodies against serotypes 1, 14, 19F and 23F before vaccination, with highest concentrations against serotypes 14 and 19F. After vaccination, the percent of individuals with opsonophagocytic titers ≥1:8 for all serotypes in the vaccine was >50% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of candidate vaccine PCV7-TT was safe when used in healthy adults. Preliminary results showed that it was able to activate an immune response against the serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae used.

The paper presents the results of a study implemented in Cuba from 2004 to 2006, regarding the attitude towards nuclear applications. This study is a response to the need of the Agency of Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies to determine the attitude of the different publics towards nuclear energy for the strategic design of communication. For the research, a methodology was used for evaluating the opinion of final users towards nuclear applications in terms of agreement or disagreement, acceptance or rejection. It was deduced from the inquiry about their knowledge, assessment and behaviour.

El trabajo presenta los resultados de un estudio sobre las actitudes hacia las aplicaciones nucleares realizado en Cuba durante los años 2004 al 2006. Este estudio responde a la necesidad de la Agencia de Energía Nuclear y Tecnologías de Avanzada de determinar las actitudes de los diferentes públicos hacia la energía nuclear para un diseño estratégico de la comunicación. Se eligió como público objeto a los usuarios finales de las técnicas nucleares y se elaboró una metodología que permitió evaluar la posición de la muestra hacia las aplicaciones nucleares en términos de acuerdo o desacuerdo, aceptación o rechazo, a partir de la indagación sobre su conocimiento, valoraciones y comportamientos.

An AIDS IIIc patient with fatigue, syndrome of intestinal malabsorption, polyneuropathy, anemia, elevated glocuse, creatinin and prothrombine time, CD4 count in 37 cells and viral burden in 2 400 000/mL, and anemia of 10 g/L, was studied. He had been receiving a cocktail of triple retroviral therapy. He was administered a cycle of ozone by rectal route at a dose of 5 mg together with interferon, transference factor and recombinat erythropoietin. On concluding the treatment, a final evaluation was made and it was found that fatigue, diarrheas, dehydration and anemia had disappeared.He has gained 8 pounds of weight and the values of glucose, creatinin and prothrombin time had become normal. He continued receiving uninterruptedly interferons and antiretroviral therapy and 3 months later it was observed that the CD4 count increased to 546 with 30 % and the viral burden decreased to 1700/mL. The effect of ozone as a potent immunomodulator and germicide in HIV/AIDS patients was evaluated

Se estudió un paciente SIDA IIIc con fatiga, síndrome de mala absorción intestinal, polineuropatía, anemia, con glucosa, creatinina y tiempo de protombina elevados, conteo CD4 en 37 células carga viral en 2 400 000/mL, el cual venía recibiendo un cóctel de triple terapia retroviral, anemia de 10 g/L. Se le administró un ciclo de ozono por vía rectal, a dosis de 5 mg, junto con interferón, factor de transferencia y eritropoyetina recombinante. Al término del tratamiento se le realizó una evaluación final donde se encontró que desaparecieron la fatiga, las diarreas, la deshidratación y la anemia, aumentando 8 kg de peso y se normalizaron los valores de glucosa, creatinina y tiempo de protombina. Después de 3 meses de finalizado el tratamiento con ozono, continuando con la administración ininterrumpida de interferones y una tetraterapia antirretroviral, el conteo CD4 aumentó a 546 con 30 % y la carga viral disminuyó a 1 700/mL. Se valoró el efecto del ozono como inmunomodulador y antimicrobiano potente en pacientes VIH/SIDA