The Expression of Vitamin D Receptor on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Psoriasis.

Vitamin D plays an important role in psoriasis, but its involvement in pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with psoriasis and healthy controls and to study the effects of the Etanercept treatment on VDR expression on PBMCs in patients with psoriasis. Twenty patients with moderate to severe psoriasis received treatment with Etanercept for 24 weeks.

Plasmablasts in previously immunologically naïve COVID-19 patients express markers indicating mucosal homing and secrete antibodies cross-reacting with SARS-CoV-2 variants and other beta-coronaviruses.

Antigen-specific class-switched antibodies are detected at the same time or even before IgM in serum of non-vaccinated individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. These derive from the first wave of plasmablasts formed. Hence, the phenotype and specificity of plasmablasts can reveal information about early B-cell activation.

Immunological differences between heart- and kidney-transplanted children: a cross-sectional study.

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder is a potentially mortal complication after heart transplantation in children. As the immune system plays a crucial role in the development of lymphoma, we explored the influence of thymus function in relation to immunosuppressive treatment in organ-transplanted children and healthy control subjects. A prospective case-control study was performed at a single centre, in which 36 children who had undergone heart transplantation were compared to two control groups: 34 kidney-transplanted children and 33 healthy age- and sex-matched children.

The PEMDAC phase 2 study of pembrolizumab and entinostat in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

Preclinical studies have suggested that epigenetic therapy could enhance immunogenicity of cancer cells. We report the results of the PEMDAC phase 2 clinical trial (n = 29; NCT02697630) where the HDAC inhibitor entinostat was combined with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (UM). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), and was met with an ORR of 14%.

β1-adrenergic and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Type 2 Receptor Antibodies are Increased in Graves' Hyperthyroidism and Decrease During Antithyroid Therapy.

Objective: To determine the association between autoantibodies to G-protein-coupled receptors with effect on the cardiovascular system and the cardiac biomarker N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide reflecting heart function in Graves' disease.

Design And Methods: Sixty premenopausal women with Graves' disease were analyzed for IgG autoantibodies against β-adrenergic, muscarinic acetylcholine type 2 and angiotensin II type 1 receptors using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays based on cell membranes overexpressing receptors in their native conformations. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and heart symptoms were analyzed in hyperthyroidism and after 7.

Cerebrospinal fluid CD4 /CD8 ratio in diagnosing neurosarcoidosis.

Objective: Neurosarcoidosis affects 5%-10% of patients with sarcoidosis. CD4 /CD8 ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage is included in diagnostic routine for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Previously, it has been suggested that a cerebrospinal fluid CD4 /CD8 ratio ≥5 can be an aid in diagnosing neurosarcoidosis.

Concomitant use of pembrolizumab and entinostat in adult patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (PEMDAC study): protocol for a multicenter phase II open label study.

Background: While recent years have seen a revolution in the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, no treatment has yet been able to demonstrate any prolonged survival in metastatic uveal melanoma. Thus, metastatic uveal melanoma remains a disease with an urgent unmet medical need. Reports of treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors have thus far been disappointing.

Phase 1 Trial With the Cell-Based Immune Primer Ilixadencel, Alone, and Combined With Sorafenib, in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Several lines of evidence support immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have shown that intratumoral injections of the immune primer ilixadencel (pro-inflammatory allogeneic dendritic cells) are safe in renal-cell carcinoma. Here, we assessed ilixadencel as a single agent and combined with sorafenib in advanced HCC.

Accuracy of genomic selection for growth and wood quality traits in two control-pollinated progeny trials using exome capture as the genotyping platform in Norway spruce.

Background: Genomic selection (GS) can increase genetic gain by reducing the length of breeding cycle in forest trees. Here we genotyped 1370 control-pollinated progeny trees from 128 full-sib families in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.

Intratumorally injected pro-inflammatory allogeneic dendritic cells as immune enhancers: a first-in-human study in unfavourable risk patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Accumulating pre-clinical data indicate that the efficient induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells characterizing viral infections is caused by cross-priming where initially infected DCs produce an unique set of inflammatory factors that recruit and activate non-infected bystander DCs. Our DC-based immunotherapy concept is guided by such bystander view and accordingly, we have developed a cellular adjuvant consisting of pre-activated allogeneic DCs producing high levels of DC-recruiting and DC-activating factors. This concept doesn't require MHC-compatibility between injected cells and the patient and therefore introduces the possibility of using pre-produced and freeze-stored DCs from healthy blood donors as an off- the-shelf immune enhancer.

Nanofabricated Catalyst Particles for the Investigation of Catalytic Carbon Oxidation by Oxygen Spillover.

The catalytic oxidation of carbon by molecular oxygen was studied using C/Pt, Pt/C, Pt/AlO/C, Pt/CeO/C, AlO/C, and CeO/C model samples prepared by hole-mask colloidal lithography. By this technique, the degree of contact between platinum and carbon was controlled with high precision. The oxidation of carbon was monitored using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Mindfulness and its efficacy for psychological and biological responses in women with breast cancer.

Many breast cancer survivors have to deal with a variety of psychological and physiological sequelae including impaired immune responses. The primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention for mood disorders in women with breast cancer. Secondary outcomes were symptom experience, health status, coping capacity, mindfulness, posttraumatic growth, and immune status.

Olfactomedin-4 autoantibodies give unusual c-ANCA staining patterns with reactivity to a subpopulation of neutrophils.

Testing for the presence of ANCAs in circulation is part of the clinical examinations routinely performed upon suspected autoimmune disorders, mainly vasculitis. The autoantibodies are typically directed toward neutrophil MPO or PR3. These are major granule-localized proteins, and similar to all hitherto-described ANCA antigens, they are expressed by all neutrophils, and ANCA-containing sera thus give rise to uniform reactivity toward all neutrophils in a sample.

Reversal of Immunoglobulin A Deficiency in Children.

Purpose: Immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is the most common primary immunodeficiency in the general population. It is defined as a serum IgA level below or equal to 0.07 g/l with normal IgM and IgG levels in children over the age of 4.

Interleukin-6 concentrations in the urine and dipstick analyses were related to bacteriuria but not symptoms in the elderly: a cross sectional study of 421 nursing home residents.

Background: Up to half the residents of nursing homes for the elderly have asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU), which should not be treated with antibiotics. A complementary test to discriminate between symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) and ABU is needed, as diagnostic uncertainty is likely to generate significant antibiotic overtreatment. Previous studies indicate that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the urine might be suitable as such a test.

Serological assessment for celiac disease in IgA deficient adults.

Purpose: Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency is the most common primary immunodeficiency disorder that is strongly overrepresented among patients with celiac disease (CD). IgG antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) serve as serological markers for CD in IgA deficient individuals, although the diagnostic value remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these markers in a large cohort of IgA deficient adults with confirmed or suspected CD and relate the findings to gluten free diet.

Antibody persistence 1 year after pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza vaccination and immunogenicity of subsequent seasonal influenza vaccine among adult organ transplant patients.

We investigated the antibody persistence in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients 1 year after immunization with two doses of monovalent AS03-adjuvanted influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine. We also assessed the boosting effect of the seasonal trivalent inactivated vaccine 2010 (TIV/10) that contained the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain. A total of 49 SOT recipients and 11 healthy controls were included.

A glycosylation-dependent CD45RB epitope defines previously unacknowledged CD27⁻IgM(high) B cell subpopulations enriched in young children and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The immune system is dysfunctional for years after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A potential cause is an intrinsic B cell deficiency. In a cohort of pediatric HSCT patients few CD27(+) B cells formed after transplantation with the number of CD27(+)IgM(high) cells more affected than class-switched ones.

Mindfulness based stress reduction study design of a longitudinal randomized controlled complementary intervention in women with breast cancer.

Background: The stress of a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment can produce a variety of psychosocial sequelae including impaired immune responses. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a structured complementary program that incorporates meditation, yoga and mind-body exercises. Despite promising empirical evidence for the efficacy of MBSR, there is a need for randomized controlled trials (RCT).

Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with cirrhosis: a longitudinal study before and after liver transplantation.

Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in cirrhosis and have an impact on quality of life. Their pathophysiology and their relation to energy intake have not been fully elucidated and the effect of liver transplantation on GI symptoms has not been studied. We aimed to prospectively evaluate GI symptoms and their determinants before and after transplantation and their potential relation with energy intake in cirrhosis.

Melan-A specific CD8+ T lymphocytes after hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion: a pilot study in patients with in-transit metastases of malignant melanoma.

Purpose: Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with hyperthermia is an effective treatment for in-transit metastases of malignant melanoma in the extremities. Preclinical studies have shown that hyperthermia may induce an immunogenic death of tumour cells. We therefore decided to study whether ILP may induce tumour-specific immune responses in the clinical setting.

Hepatic encephalopathy is related to anemia and fat-free mass depletion in liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis.

Background: Although muscle wasting may lead to decreased ammonia detoxification in cirrhosis, the potential role of lean mass depletion in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has not been explored. Anemia, hormonal abnormalities, and psychological distress may contribute to cognitive dysfunction, but data on their potential relation to HE are limited.

Methods: Data on 108 cirrhotic liver transplant candidates enrolled in a prospective study on fatigue were retrospectively analyzed.