Staphylococcal enterotoxin A-activated regulatory T cells promote allergen-specific T2 response to intratracheal allergen inoculation.

Background: T2 responses are implicated in asthma pathobiology. Epidemiologic studies have found a positive association between asthma and exposure to staphylococcal enterotoxins.

Objective: We used a mouse model of asthma to determine whether staphylococcal enterotoxins promote T2 differentiation of allergen-specific CD4 conventional T (Tcon) cells and asthma by activating allergen-nonspecific regulatory T (Treg) cells to create a T2-polarizing cytokine milieu.

Treatment approach, delivery, and follow-up evaluation for cardiac rhythm disease management patients receiving radiation therapy: retrospective physician surveys including chart reviews at numerous centers.

In a 2-part study, we first examined the results of 71 surveyed physicians who provided responses on how they address the management of patients who maintained either a pacemaker or a defibrillator during radiation treatment. Second, a case review study is presented involving 112 medical records reviewed at 18 institutions to determine whether there was a change in the radiation prescription for the treatment of the target cancer, the method of radiation delivery, or the method of radiation image acquisition. Statistics are provided to illustrate the level of administrative policy; the level of communication between radiation oncologists and heart specialists; American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging and classification; National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines; tumor site; patient׳s sex; patient׳s age; device type; manufacturer; live monitoring; and the reported decisions for planning, delivery, and imaging.

Model-based imputation approach for data analysis in the presence of non-detects.

A model-based multiple imputation approach for analyzing sample data with non-detects is proposed. The imputation approach involves randomly generating observations below the detection limit using the detected sample values and then analyzing the data using complete sample techniques, along with suitable adjustments to account for the imputation. The method is described for the normal case and is illustrated for making inferences for constructing prediction limits, tolerance limits, for setting an upper bound for an exceedance probability and for interval estimation of a log-normal mean.