Efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma by changing the acoustic environment: microbubble contrast agent (SonoVue) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety of microbubble contrast agent (SonoVue) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: According to our inclusion criteria, we retrospectively reviewed 52 patients with HCCs, and divided them into SonoVue group and TACE group. Tumors were examined by enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

CAR T Cells Targeting B7-H3, a Pan-Cancer Antigen, Demonstrate Potent Preclinical Activity Against Pediatric Solid Tumors and Brain Tumors.

Purpose: Patients with relapsed pediatric solid tumors and CNS malignancies have few therapeutic options and frequently die of their disease. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown tremendous success in treating relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but this has not yet translated to treating solid tumors. This is partially due to a paucity of differentially expressed cell surface molecules on solid tumors that can be safely targeted.

A Unique Human Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Variable Domain-Only CD33 CAR for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a challenging pediatric and adult disease. Given the elevated expression of the CD33 antigen on leukemic blasts, therapeutic approaches to AML now feature the approved antibody drug conjugate (Mylotarg, GO) and investigational CART cell approaches incorporating CD33-binding domains derived from humanized scFvs. We designed a functional chimeric antigen receptor utilizing a human targeting sequence, derived from a heavy chain variable domain, termed CAR33VH.

Selective Laser Melting of Integrated Ti6Al4V ELI Permeable Walls for Controlled Drug Delivery of Vancomycin.

Bacteria colonizing the surface of orthopedic implants are responsible for most postoperative periprosthetic joint infections. A possible alternative route for drug delivery is described in this study by utilizing the bulk of the implant itself as a reservoir. Drug release is enabled by manufacturing of integrated permeable structures possessing high porosity through application of selective laser melting technology.

The phylogeny of pholcid spiders: a critical evaluation of relationships suggested by molecular data (Araneae, Pholcidae).

With almost 600 species, the latest molecular phylogeny of pholcid spiders (Eberle et al. 2018, BMC Evolutionary Biology) more than triples the largest previously available molecular phylogeny of the family. At the level of genera, the coverage is high (86%, i.

The impact and cost-effectiveness of controlling cholera through the use of oral cholera vaccines in urban Bangladesh: A disease modeling and economic analysis.

Background: Cholera remains an important public health problem in major cities in Bangladesh, especially in slum areas. In response to growing interest among local policymakers to control this disease, this study estimated the impact and cost-effectiveness of preventive cholera vaccination over a ten-year period in a high-risk slum population in Dhaka to inform decisions about the use of oral cholera vaccines as a key tool in reducing cholera risk in such populations.

Methodology/principal Findings: Assuming use of a two-dose killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccine to be produced locally, the number of cholera cases and deaths averted was estimated for three target group options (1-4 year olds, 1-14 year olds, and all persons 1+), using cholera incidence data from Dhaka, estimates of vaccination coverage rates from the literature, and a dynamic model of cholera transmission based on data from Matlab, which incorporates herd effects.

The Delta-Scoring Method of Tests With Binary Items: A Note on True Score Estimation and Equating.

This article presents some new developments in the methodology of an approach to scoring and equating of tests with binary items, referred to as delta scoring (D-scoring), which is under piloting with large-scale assessments at the National Center for Assessment in Saudi Arabia. This presentation builds on a previous work on delta scoring and adds procedures for scaling and equating, item response function, and estimation of true values and standard errors of D scores. Also, unlike the previous work on this topic, where D-scoring involves estimates of item and person parameters in the framework of item response theory, the approach presented here does not require item response theory calibration.

Host migration strategy and blood parasite infections of three sparrow species sympatrically breeding in Southeast Europe.

Mobile hosts like birds occupy a wide array of habitats in which they encounter various vector and parasite faunas. If the infection probability for vector-borne parasites varies among seasons and biomes, a migratory life can critically influence the infections of a host. The growing body of literature on avian blood parasites suggests that host migrations do not only influence prevalence of infection but can also evoke higher infection intensities and increased parasite diversity in migrant compared to resident host species.

Microhabitat change drives diversification in pholcid spiders.

Background: Microhabitat changes are thought to be among the main drivers of diversification. However, this conclusion is mostly based on studies on vertebrates. Here, we investigate the influence of microhabitat on diversification rates in pholcid spiders (Araneae, Pholcidae).

Bladder urothelial carcinoma producing insulin-like growth factor II: A case report.

Introduction: Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome associated with tumors. Although it mainly occurs in solid tumors of mesenchymal and epithelial origin, but rarely also in hematopoietic and neuroendocrine origin.

Case Presentation: We describe a 65-year-old man with a muscle-invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma, which rapidly progressed against systemic chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine and cisplatin.

Antibacterial Activity of Vancomycin Encapsulated in Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) Nanoparticles Using Electrospraying.

Vancomycin is often used to treat infections caused by β-lactam-resistant bacteria. However, methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquired resistance to vancomycin, rendering it less effective in the treatment of serious infections. In the search for novel antibiotics, alternative delivery mechanisms have also been explored.

A dual-specific IGF-I/II human engineered antibody domain inhibits IGF signaling in breast cancer cells.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF-I and IGF-II, are essential for regulating cell growth, differentiation and metastasis of a broad range of malignancies. The IGF-I/II actions are mediated through the IGF receptor type 1 (IGF-1R) and the insulin receptor (IR), which are overexpressed in multiple types of tumors. Here, we have firstly identified a human engineered antibody domain (eAd) from a phage-displayed VH library.

Recombinant-fully-human-antibody decorated highly-stable far-red AIEdots for in vivo HER-2 receptor-targeted imaging.

We developed highly bright and stable far-red emissive AIEdots by using a new kind of click-functional PEG grafted amphiphilic polymer to coat hydrophobic AIE-active polymers (PDFDP). Furthermore, an anti-HER2 recombinant fully human antibody was produced and conjugated on the AIEdots via metal-free click chemistry to fabricate in vivo tumor-targeting nanoprobes.

THE CD/DVD METHOD AS A TOOL FOR THE HEALTH PHYSICS SERVICE AND VENTILATION DIAGNOSTICS IN UNDERGROUND MINES.

The CD/DVDs used as radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) detectors can provide a sufficiently sensitive and cost-efficient option for passive radiation monitoring in underground mines. This note presents results of measurements made under real environmental conditions by CD/DVDs. Comparison with conventional diffusion chambers was made and good correspondence was observed.

RADON LEVELS AND ЕQUIVALENT DOSE RATES AT THE IRT-SOFIA RESEARCH REACTOR SITE.

Results from radon measurements by active sampling of indoor air in the buildings within the Nuclear Scientific Experimental and Educational Centre (NSEEC) protected site at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE) are presented. The inspected buildings included in this report are the IRT research reactor structure and several auxiliary formations wherein the laundry facilities and the gamma irradiator GOU-1 (60Co source) are installed as well as the Central Alarm Station (CAS) premises. Besides the reactor hall and the primary cooling loop area, special attention was given to the premises of the First Class Radiochemical Laboratory in the IRT reactor basement.

Tumor stroma-targeted antibody-drug conjugate triggers localized anticancer drug release.

Although nonmalignant stromal cells facilitate tumor growth and can occupy up to 90% of a solid tumor mass, better strategies to exploit these cells for improved cancer therapy are needed. Here, we describe a potent MMAE-linked antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8, also known as ANTXR1), a highly conserved transmembrane receptor broadly overexpressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelium, and pericytes. Anti-TEM8 ADC elicited potent anticancer activity through an unexpected killing mechanism we term DAaRTS (drug activation and release through stroma), whereby the tumor microenvironment localizes active drug at the tumor site.

Examining Measurement Invariance and Differential Item Functioning With Discrete Latent Construct Indicators: A Note on a Multiple Testing Procedure.

A latent variable modeling method for studying measurement invariance when evaluating latent constructs with multiple binary or binary scored items with no guessing is outlined. The approach extends the continuous indicator procedure described by Raykov and colleagues, utilizes similarly the false discovery rate approach to multiple testing, and permits one to locate violations of measurement invariance in loading or threshold parameters. The discussed method does not require selection of a reference observed variable and is directly applicable for studying differential item functioning with one- or two-parameter item response models.

Examining Construct Congruence for Psychometric Tests: A Note on an Extension to Binary Items and Nesting Effects.

This article extends the procedure outlined in the article by Raykov, Marcoulides, and Tong for testing congruence of latent constructs to the setting of binary items and clustering effects. In this widely used setting in contemporary educational and psychological research, the method can be used to examine if two or more homogeneous multicomponent instruments with distinct components measure the same construct. The approach is useful in scale construction and development research as well as in construct validation investigations.

A defucosylated bispecific multivalent molecule exhibits broad HIV-1-neutralizing activity and enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against reactivated HIV-1 latently infected cells.

Objective: Current treatments cannot completely eradicate HIV-1 owing to the presence of latently infected cells, which harbor transcriptionally silent HIV-1. However, defucosylated antibodies can readily kill latently infected cells after their activation to express envelope glycoprotein (Env) through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). We herein aimed to test a defucosylated bispecific multivalent molecule consisting of domain-antibody and single-domain CD4, LSEVh-LS-F, for its HIV-1 neutralizing activity and ADCC against the reactivated latently infected cells, compared with the nondefucosylated molecule LSEVh-LS.

Detecting local transmission of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (Apicomlexa, Haemosporida) at a Special Protection Area of Natura 2000 network.

Avian haemosporidian parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread pathogens that cause malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and other haemosporidioses (Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp.

Phylogenomics, Diversification Dynamics, and Comparative Transcriptomics across the Spider Tree of Life.

Dating back to almost 400 mya, spiders are among the most diverse terrestrial predators [1]. However, despite considerable effort [1-9], their phylogenetic relationships and diversification dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we use a synergistic approach to study spider evolution through phylogenomics, comparative transcriptomics, and lineage diversification analyses.

Ligand accessibility to the HIV-1 Env co-receptor binding site can occur prior to CD4 engagement and is independent of viral tier category.

HIV-1 virus entry into target cells requires the envelope glycoprotein (Env) to first bind the primary receptor, CD4 and subsequently the co-receptor. Antibody access to the co-receptor binding site (CoRbs) in the pre-receptor-engaged state, prior to cell attachment, remains poorly understood. Here, we have demonstrated that for tier-1 Envs, the CoRbs is directly accessible to full-length CD4-induced (CD4i) antibodies even before primary receptor engagement, indicating that on these Envs the CoRbs site is either preformed or can conformationally sample post-CD4-bound state.

The minimal-ABC trees with B1-branches.

The atom-bond connectivity index (or, for short, ABC index) is a molecular structure descriptor bridging chemistry to graph theory. It is probably the most studied topological index among all numerical parameters of a graph that characterize its topology. For a given graph G = (V, E), the ABC index of G is defined as [Formula: see text], where di denotes the degree of the vertex i, and ij is the edge incident to the vertices i and j.

Projected effectiveness and added value of HIV vaccination campaigns in South Africa: A modeling study.

Promising multi-dose HIV vaccine regimens are being tested in trials in South Africa. We estimated the potential epidemiological and economic impact of HIV vaccine campaigns compared to continuous vaccination, assuming that vaccine efficacy is transient and dependent on immune response. We used a dynamic economic mathematical model of HIV transmission calibrated to 2012 epidemiological data to simulate vaccination with anticipated antiretroviral treatment scale-up in South Africa.