Optimized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques for the treatment of major depression: A proof of concept study.

Although effective in major depressive disorder (MDD), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is costly and complex, limiting accessibility. To address this, we tested the feasibility of novel rTMS techniques with cost-saving opportunities, such as an open-room setting, large non-focal parabolic coils, and custom-built coil arms. We employed a low-frequency (LF) 1 Hz stimulation protocol (360 pulses per session), delivered on the most affordable FDA-approved device.

Overcoming the challenges associated with CD3+ T-cell redirection in cancer.

The development of bispecific antibodies that redirect the cytotoxic activity of CD3+ T cells to tumours is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of haematological malignancies and solid cancers. Since the landmark FDA approval at the end of 2014 of the anti-CD3 × anti-CD19 bispecific antibody blinatumomab (Blincyto) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, ~100 clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of CD3+ bispecific T-cell redirectors for cancer have been initiated. However, despite early success, numerous challenges pertaining to CD3+ T-cell redirection in the context of cancer exist, including the recruitment of counterproductive CD3+ T-cell subsets, the release of systemic cytokines, the expansion of immune checkpoint molecules, the presence of an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, tumour antigen loss/escape, on-target off-tumour toxicity and suboptimal potency.

Regulatory T cell targeting in cancer: Emerging strategies in immunotherapy.

The adaptive immune system is modulated by an important subset of CD4 T lymphocytes called Treg cells that function in maintaining immune homeostasis by preventing excessive immune activation. Both deficiency and overactivation of Treg cell function can result in disease pathology. While loss of Treg function can lead to autoimmunity, an overabundance of Treg activity can promote tumorigenesis.

Emerging CAR-T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype that lacks estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 expression, does not respond to traditional endocrine and anti-HER2-targeted therapies. Current treatment options for patients with TNBC include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and/or systemic chemotherapy. FDA-approved therapies that target DNA damage repair mechanisms in TNBC, such as PARP inhibitors, only provide marginal clinical benefit.

Bispecific Antibodies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive breast cancer subtype lacking estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, is associated with heightened metastatic potential and poor prognosis. While systemic chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical excision remain the current treatment modalities for patients with TNBC, the immunogenic nature of this aggressive disease has presented opportunity for the development of TNBC-targeting immunotherapies. Bispecific antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of TNBC have gained recent attention in the scientific community.

Essential role of STAT5a in DCIS formation and invasion following estrogen treatment.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is one of the earliest stages of breast cancer (BCa). The mechanisms by which DCIS lesions progress to an invasive state while others remain indolent are yet to be fully characterized and both diagnosis and treatment of this pre-invasive disease could benefit from better understanding the pathways involved. While a decreased expression of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in the tumor microenvironment of patients with DCIS breast cancer was linked to progression to invasive breast cancer (IBC), the downstream effector(s) contributing to this process remain elusive.

Phosphorylated STAT3 (Tyr705) as a biomarker of response to pimozide treatment in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) displays an aggressive clinical course, heightened metastatic potential, and is linked to poor survival rates. Through its lack of expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), this subtype remains unresponsive to traditional targeted therapies. Undesirable and sometimes life-threatening side effects associated with current chemotherapeutic agents warrant the development of more targeted treatment options.

Development of CAPER peptides for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease, which lacks expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor (HER2). This subtype of breast cancer has the poorest prognosis with limited therapies currently available, and hence additional options are needed. CAPER is a coactivator of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) (interacting specifically with the c-Jun component) and the ER and is known to be involved in human breast cancer pathogenesis.

Evaluation of a Urine-Based Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Test with Potential to Be Used at Point-of-Care for Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Cape Town Cohort.

Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis among sputum-scarce patients is time consuming. Thus, a nonsputum diagnostic alternative is urgently needed. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific transrenal (Tr) DNA from urine is a potential target for TB diagnostics.

Detection of transrenal DNA for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and treatment monitoring.

Purpose: Molecular diagnostics of patients with MTB tuberculosis from urine samples.

Methods: We developed a new molecular assay based on the detection of M. tuberculosis-specific transrenal DNA (trDNA) and tested it for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis at the initiation of anti-tuberculosis therapy and during treatment follow-up.

Raman spectroscopic identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

In this study, Raman microspectroscopy has been utilized to identify mycobacteria to the species level. Because of the slow growth of mycobacteria, the per se cultivation-independent Raman microspectroscopy emerges as a perfect tool for a rapid on-the-spot mycobacterial diagnostic test. Special focus was laid upon the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) strains, as the main causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis worldwide, and the differentiation between pathogenic and commensal nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).

LOC-SERS: A Promising Closed System for the Identification of Mycobacteria.

A closed droplet based lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device has been developed for the differentiation of six species of mycobacteria, i.e., both Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Destruction-free procedure for the isolation of bacteria from sputum samples for Raman spectroscopic analysis.

Lower respiratory tract infections are the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Here, a timely identification of the causing pathogens is crucial to the success of the treatment. Raman spectroscopy allows for quick identification of bacterial cells without the need for time-consuming cultivation steps, which is the current gold standard to detect pathogens.

Molecular chaperone function for myocilin.

Purpose: Myocilin is thought to be a stress response protein, but its exact molecular functions have not been established. Studies were conducted to see whether myocilin can act as a general molecular chaperone.

Methods: Myocilin was isolated and purified from porcine trabecular meshwork (TM) cell culture media.

Comparison of red cell and whole blood volume as performed using both chromium-51-tagged red cells and iodine-125-tagged albumin and using I-131-tagged albumin and extrapolated red cell volume.

Background: Our facility's current blood volume measurement protocol has involved separate measurement of plasma and red cell volumes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether measurement with a recently FDA-approved, one-compartment semiautomated system provides similar accuracy.

Methods: Blood volume measurement was performed on 27 volunteers using our current protocol followed immediately by semiautomated plasma volume measurement and red cell volume calculation with a recently available system (BVA-100).

Mapping training: the transfer of a cognitive technology for improving counseling.

To provide information that will reduce the gap between research and practice, the transfer of a complex drug abuse counseling technology is examined. This technology, cognitive mapping, is a graphic tool shown to effectively facilitate communication and problem solving in group and individual counseling sessions. Unlike some techniques, mapping requires substantial counselor time, effort, and expertise to learn and to use.

Downward Spiral: a pedagogical game depicting the dangers of substance abuse.

We have developed a pedagogical game called Downward Spiral that illuminates the dangers associated with continued drug use (including alcohol). The game provides facts, quotes, and episodic consequences that can adversely affect each player's mental and physical health, social support, and financial/legal situation over the course of the game. The conceptual and empirical foundations of the game (both a college prevention version and substance abuse treatment version) are discussed.

Mapping-enhanced drug abuse counseling: urinalysis results in the first year of methadone treatment.

Urinalysis (UA) tests for opiates and cocaine were obtained over a 12-month period for a total of 155 long-term clients who participated in treatment in one of three urban methadone centers. At admission, clients were randomly assigned to "node-link mapping" (n = 82) or "standard" (n = 73) counseling treatment. Node-link mapping is a strategy for visually representing interrelationships between clients' ideas, feelings, and experiences.

Schematic maps: cognitive tools for enhancing the early stages of counseling.

The purpose of the present studies was to explore the utility of schematic maps as tools for the early stages of both peer and self-counseling. In experiment 1 (self-counseling), 42 students from undergraduate general psychology classes participated to fulfill course requirements. Participants were assigned to either a schematic map or essay group.

Ethnicity and the effects of mapping-enhanced drug abuse counseling.

It was hypothesized that node-link mapping a tool for visually representing client issues during drug abuse counseling, would reduce communication barriers between counselors and their African American and Mexican American clients. Three hundred twenty daily opioid users participated in methadone maintenance treatment programs in three cities for 6 months or longer following random assignments to mapping-enhanced or standard counseling. Clients in the mapping condition had fewer drug-positive urines (with respect to opiates and cocaine), missed fewer scheduled counseling sessions, and were rated more positively by their counselors on rapport, motivation, and self-confidence during the first 6 months of treatment.

The use of node-link mapping in drug abuse counseling: the role of attentional factors.

This study extends previous research on the use of node-link mapping during counseling by addressing the effect that this visual representation technique has on clients with attentional problems. Participants were 13 counselors in a methadone treatment program and their 93 opioid-addicted clients who had been in treatment for more than three months. Both counselors and clients were randomly assigned to mapping-enhanced or standard counseling.

A visual representation system for drug abuse counselors.

Node-link mapping is a technique that consists of drawing spatial-verbal displays to visually represent interrelationships between ideas, feelings, facts, and experiences. These multirelational maps are drawn during ongoing counseling sessions to represent a variety of personal and nonpersonal topics. This article provides an overview of this technique, including rationale, related and supporting research, and an example of its use during counseling.

Using schematic organizers to help college students organize personal concepts and behavior related to alcohol and cocaine use.

The intent of this study was to assess the perceived effectiveness of using two types of schematic, graphic organizers--"maps" and "conceptual matrices"--to organize personal understanding of alcohol and cocaine behavior patterns and knowledge about reasons for and consequences of alcohol and cocaine use. Participants in this three-session, 6-hour study were 111 students from a private, southwestern university who were recruited from undergraduate psychology classes. Participants were randomly assigned to either "schema" (matrix/map) or "nonschema" (essay) conditions.

Identifying the best scenario for using schematic organizers as integration tools for alcohol-related information.

The goal of the present study was to examine scenarios for using two schematic organizers--schematic knowledge maps and conceptual matrices--in integrating episodic and semantic knowledge about alcohol. Seventy students from undergraduate general psychology classes participated for course credit. Participants were assigned to either a schematic organizer group or an essay writing group.