Bystander activation and anti-tumor effects of CD8+ T cells following Interleukin-2 based immunotherapy is independent of CD4+ T cell help.

We have previously demonstrated that immunotherapy combining agonistic anti-CD40 and IL-2 (IT) results in synergistic anti-tumor effects. IT induces expansion of highly cytolytic, antigen-independent "bystander-activated" (CD8(+)CD44high) T cells displaying a CD25(-)NKG2D(+) phenotype in a cytokine dependent manner, which were responsible for the anti-tumor effects. While much attention has focused on CD4(+) T cell help for antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell expansion, little is known regarding the role of CD4(+) T cells in antigen-nonspecific bystander-memory CD8(+) T cell expansion.

Materials composed of the Drosophila Hox protein Ultrabithorax are biocompatible and nonimmunogenic.

Although the in vivo function of the Drosophila melanogaster Hox protein Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is to regulate transcription, in vitro Ubx hierarchically self-assembles to form nanoscale to macroscale materials. The morphology, mechanical properties, and functionality (via protein chimeras) of Ubx materials are all easily engineered. Ubx materials are also compatible with cells in culture.

Toll-like receptor 9-mediated protection of enterovirus 71 infection in mice is due to the release of danger-associated molecular patterns.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a positive-stranded RNA virus, is the major cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) with severe neurological symptoms. Antiviral type I interferon (alpha/beta interferon [IFN-α/β]) responses initiated from innate receptor signaling are inhibited by EV71-encoded proteases. It is less well understood whether EV71-induced apoptosis provides a signal to activate type I interferon responses as a host defensive mechanism.

Design and evaluation of a computerized test for hand motor skills.

The purposes of this study are to design and develop a computerized test to measure junior high school students' motor skills, specifically their abilities in hand-eye motor coordination and hand motor skills, using the Wii Remote. The hand motor skills computerized test, which is based on the operational examinations in the General Aptitude Test Battery, examines hand and finger dexterity (i.e.

Therapeutic benefit of bortezomib on acute graft-versus-host disease is tissue specific and is associated with interleukin-6 levels.

Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor capable of direct antitumor effects, has been shown to prevent acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) when administered in a short course immediately after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in mice. However, when bortezomib is given continuously, CD4(+) T cell-mediated gastrointestinal tract damage increases GVHD mortality. To investigate the protective effects of bortezomib on other organs, we used a CD8-dependent acute GVHD (aGVHD) model of C3H.

Role of thyrotropin-releasing hormone test in re-evaluation of congenital hypothyroidism.

The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test is useful for differentiating central and primary hypothyroidism, and is also valuable for diagnosing hypothyroidism. The threshold of the TRH test is usually set at 10-40 mIU/L. However, some experts are of the opinion that the TRH test has a limited role in evaluating hypothyroidism because of the clinical application of the new-generation thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay.

Deltex1 promotes protein kinase Cθ degradation and sustains Casitas B-lineage lymphoma expression.

The generation of T cell anergy is associated with upregulation of ubiquitin E3 ligases including Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl-b), Itch, gene related to anergy in lymphocyte, and deltex1 (DTX1). These E3 ligases attenuate T cell activation by targeting to signaling molecules. For example, Cbl-b and Itch promote the degradation of protein kinase Cθ (PKCθ) and phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) in anergic Th1 cells.

Periodic anti-ring back reflectors for hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells.

Large and periodic anti-ring arrays are fabricated by using a monolayer of polymer/nanosphere hybrid technique and applied as back reflectors in substrate-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film solar cells. The structure of each anti-ring comprises a nanodome centered inside a nanohole. The excitation of Bloch wave surface plasmon polaritons is observed in the Ag-coated anti-ring arrays.

Dengue type four viruses with E-Glu345Lys adaptive mutation from MRC-5 cells induce low viremia but elicit potent neutralizing antibodies in rhesus monkeys.

Knowledge of virulence and immunogenicity is important for development of live-attenuated dengue vaccines. We previously reported that an infectious clone-derived dengue type 4 virus (DENV-4) passaged in MRC-5 cells acquired a Glu345Lys (E-E345K) substitution in the E protein domain III (E-DIII). The same cloned DENV-4 was found to yield a single E-Glu327Gly (E-E327G) mutation after passage in FRhL cells and cause the loss of immunogenicity in rhesus monkeys.

Aliphatic phenolic ethers from Trichobotrys effusa.

Four novel aliphatic phenolic ethers, namely, trichoethers A-D (1-4), possessing a unique C11-O-C10 skeleton, together with coriloxin, zythiostromic acid A, radicicol, and 3,5-dihydroxytoluene were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the fermented broths of Trichobotrys effusa YMJ1179. The structures of all the compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data analysis. The configurations of 1-4 were established by J values and NOESY and compared with published data.

Inflammation-induced drug release by using a pH-responsive gas-generating hollow-microsphere system for the treatment of osteomyelitis.

In the conventional treatment of osteomyelitis, the penetration of antibiotics into the infected bone is commonly poor. To ensure that the local antibiotic concentration is adequate, this work develops an injectable calcium phosphate (CP) cement in which is embedded pH-responsive hollow microspheres (HMs) that can control the release of a drug according to the local pH. The HMs are fabricated using a microfluidic device, with a shell of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and an aqueous core that contains vancomycin (Van) and NaHCO3.

Mucosal lichen planus: an evidence-based treatment update.

Background: Mucosal lichen planus (MLP) is a chronic mucosal disorder that often poses a therapeutic challenge to dermatologists, dentists, and gynecologists. To relieve patients' pain and discomfort, improve their quality of life, and achieve clinical improvement, various therapeutic approaches can be considered for this disease. Based on the current literature it is difficult to define any particular treatment as the main therapeutic modality.

Effects of stent design on new clinical issue of longitudinal stent compression in interventional cardiology.

In recent years, interventional cardiologists have discussed over a new clinical issue called longitudinal stent compression (LSC), a failure mode not previously observed in coronary stents. This phenomenon occurs when the physician attempts to cross a deployed stent with a second device, causing the stent to dramatically shorten when two devices are accidentally entangled. While this phenomenon has been observed with a number of stent platforms, it seems more common with the Element stent.

Deregulated expression of circadian clock genes in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC), an aggressive malignant tumor of the alimentary tract, is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Circadian rhythm exhibits a 24-hour variation in physiological processes and behavior, such as hormone levels, metabolism, gene expression, sleep and wakefulness, and appetite. Disruption of circadian rhythm has been associated with various cancers, including chronic myeloid leukemia, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, and breast cancer.

Acute cerebral infarct with elevated factor VIII level during the thrombocytopenic stage after hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Thromboembolism is a complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. However, a literature search showed no previous reports of cerebral infarction during the thrombocytopenic stage after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. A 35-year-old woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (precursor B-cell type) was treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplant after induction and consolidation chemotherapy.

Inhibition of soluble tumor necrosis factor is therapeutic in Huntington's disease.

Neuroinflammation is a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD). HD is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Previous studies demonstrated that levels of several proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were higher in the plasma and brain tissues of mice and patients with HD, suggesting that inflammation may contribute to HD progression.

Enhancing bright-field image of microorganisms by local plasmon of Ag nanoparticle array.

Inspecting biological cells with bright-field light microscopy often engenders a challenge, owing to their optical transparency. We show that imaging contrast can be greatly enhanced as yeast cells are placed on a silver nanoparticle array. Its near- and far-field traits, revealed by electrodynamic simulations, illustrate that the enhancement is attributed to the sensitivity of its plasmonic characteristics to the attached cells.

Strontium ranelate related Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case report.

Strontium ranelate is a relatively new medication with good safety profile for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions have been reported, such as drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who developed multiple itching erythematous macules and plaques about 1 month after beginning strontium ranelate medication.

Mutations in pseudohypoparathyroidism 1a and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism in ethnic Chinese.

An inactivating mutation in the GNAS gene causes either pseudohypoparathyroidism 1a (PHP1A) when it is maternally inherited or pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) when it is paternally inherited. We investigated clinical manifestations and mutations of the GNAS gene in ethnic Chinese patients with PHP1A or PPHP. Seven patients from 5 families including 4 girls and 2 boys with PHP1A and 1 girl with PPHP were studied.

Expansion of regulatory T cells from umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood CD4(+)CD25 (+) T cells.

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg), if properly expanded from umbilical cord blood (UCB), may provide a promising immunotherapeutic tool. Our previous data demonstrated that UCB CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells with 4-day stimulation have comparable phenotypes and suppressive function to that of adult peripheral blood (APB) CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. We further examined whether 2-week culture would achieve higher expansion levels of Tregs.

Application of molecular biological techniques to analyze Salmonella seasonal distribution in stream water.

Salmonella is a leading cause of waterborne diseases. Salmonella can survive for a long time in aquatic environments, and its persistence in the environment is of great concern to public health. Nonetheless, the presence and diversity of Salmonella in the aquatic environments in most areas remain relatively unknown.

Long-Term Prognosis in Recipients of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators for Secondary Preventions in Taiwan - A Multicenter Registry Study.

Background: The use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has a proven capacity to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD), and can also improve survival duration in well-selected patients. The goal of the present study was to investigate the long-term prognosis and predictors of mortalities among ICD recipients in Taiwan.

Methods: From 1998 to 2009, 238 consecutive patients who experienced SCDs or life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias without correctable causes and received ICD implantations in 3 medical centers (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital) were enrolled in this study.

Headache in the pediatric emergency service: a medical center experience.

Background: Headache is a common complaint in children and is one of the most common reasons for presentation at a pediatric emergency department (PED). This study described the etiologies of patients with headache seen in the PED and determined predictors of intracranial pathology (ICP) requiring urgent intervention. A secondary objective was to develop rapid, practical tools for screening headache in the PED.