A rare case of isolated persistent left superior vena cava diagnosed by echocardiography.

Background: The persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is an infrequent vascular variant. PLSVC with absent right superior vena cava, also known as isolated PLSVC, is an exceptionally rare entity. In this case we present a patient with isolated PLSVC draining to coronary sinus, diagnosed incidentally during echocardiography.

Speckle-tracking echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: The comprehensive assessment of right ventricular (RV) performance is of paramount importance because it is has been recognized as a strong prognostic factor in a variety of clinical settings. The aim herein was to evaluate the usefulness of RV longitudinal strain imaging by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in daily clinical practice, especially in the context of RV systolic function and its changes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 63 patients with ischemic injury (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 45%).

Cytotopic (Cyto-) IL-15 as a New Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Recombinant Production in and Purification.

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine previously suggested as a potential immunotherapy for cancer treatment. IL-15 can effectively reduce tumor growth in many preclinical tumor models including prostate cancer. This is due to its ability to expand and activate immune cells, such as CD8 T cells and natural killer cells.

Targeting Prostate Cancer Using Intratumoral Cytotopically Modified Interleukin-15 Immunotherapy in a Syngeneic Murine Model.

Background: The prostate cancer microenvironment is highly immunosuppressive; immune cells stimulated in the periphery by systemic immunotherapies will be rendered inactive once entering this environment. Immunotherapies for prostate cancer need to break this immune tolerance. We have previously identified interleukin-15 (IL-15) as the only cytokine tested that activates and expands immune cells in the presence of prostate cancer cells.