People with tuberculosis are associated with a subsequent risk of depression.

Background: There is some evidence that the prevalence of depression in patients with tuberculosis (TB) is higher than those in the general population. However, the incidence of depression after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection remains unknown. Our aim was to assess the association between TB and the subsequent risk of depression.

Interleukin-4 enhances trafficking and functional activities of GM-CSF-stimulated mouse myeloid-derived dendritic cells at late differentiation stage.

Mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) are being employed as an important model for translational research into the development of DC-based therapeutics. For such use, the localization and specialized mobility of injected BMDCs within specific immune tissues are known to define their immunity and usefulness in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-4, a key driving factor for in vitro propagation and differentiation of BMDCs, when added during a late culture stage can enhance the in vivo trafficking activity of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-induced BMDCs.

Clinical presentations, prognostic factors, and mortality in patients with Aeromonas sobria complex bacteremia in a teaching hospital: a 5-year experience.

Background And Purpose: Bacteremia due to Aeromonas sobria complex is an uncommon clinical presentation, associated with a high mortality rate. This retrospective study reviewed the clinical manifestations and prognostic factors of A. sobria complex bacteremia.

Genomics and proteomics of immune modulatory effects of a butanol fraction of echinacea purpurea in human dendritic cells.

Background: Echinacea spp. extracts and the derived phytocompounds have been shown to induce specific immune cell activities and are popularly used as food supplements or nutraceuticals for immuno-modulatory functions. Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen presenting cells, play an important role in both innate and adaptive immunities.

Immunomodulatory effects of phytocompounds characterized by in vivo transgenic human GM-CSF promoter activity in skin tissues.

To investigate the immunomodulatory activities of phytocompounds for potential therapeutics, we devised an in vivo, transgenic, human cytokine gene promoter assay using defined epidermal skin cells as test tissue. Test compounds were topically applied to mouse skin before or after gene gun transfection, using a cytokine gene promoter-driven luciferase reporter. Croton oil, an inflammation inducer, induced transgenic GM-CSF and TNF-alpha promoter activities in skin epidermis 6-fold and 3.

Modulatory effects of Echinacea purpurea extracts on human dendritic cells: a cell- and gene-based study.

Echinacea spp. are popularly used as an herbal medicine or food supplement for enhancing the immune system. This study shows that plant extracts from root [R] and stem plus leaf [S+L] tissues of E.

Comparative studies of the capsid precursor polypeptide P1 and the capsid protein VP1 cDNA vectors for DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a severe livestock disease, and the virus is an interesting target for virology and vaccine studies.

Materials And Methods: Here we evaluated comparatively three different viral antigen-encoding DNA sequences, delivered via two physical means (i.e.