Studies of methylated CpG ODN from subsp. in a murine model: Implications for treatment of human allergic disease.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is currently the most effective immunologic form of treatment for patients with atopic allergic diseases commonly used by allergist/immunologists to reduce allergic symptoms by gradually desensitizing the immune system to specific allergens. Currently, the primary mechanism of AIT emphasizes the crucial role of immune regulation, which involves a shift from a T-helper type 2 (Th2) cell response, which promotes allergy, to a T-regulatory (Treg) cell population, which inhibits the allergic inflammatory response through the production of immunosuppressive cytokines interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor β, which play pivotal roles in suppressing the allergic reaction. In a series of previous in vitro and in vivo experiments, we have demonstrated the capacity of synthetic methylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) moieties as well as methylated genomic DNA ODN motifs from Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis to activate Treg cell differentiation in contrast to the unmethylated ODN moiety, which promotes proinflammatory responses driven by Th17-mediated responses.

The mitochondrial and cytoplasmic superoxide anion imbalance trigger the expression of certain cellular aging markers in HaCaT keratinocytes.

In cells, the term "cellular aging" represents a collection of biological changes that can precede the proliferative senescence states. Cells more resistant to proliferative senescence, such as the ones found in the basal layer of the epidermis, may also exhibit these aging patterns. Therefore, cellular aging events could be induced by endogenous signals named here as cellular aging triggers (CATs) components.

Long COVID Following Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Retrospective Study in a Portuguese Primary Health Care Unit.

Introduction: Long COVID is a recent pathological entity. Its manifestations and impact on health and quality of life and, on a larger scale, at an economic and social level may be very significant, reflecting a challenge for the future. The family doctor plays a major role in the care of these patients and must be aware of this new reality.

Pediatric menisci: normal aspects, anatomical variants, lesions, tears, and postsurgical findings.

The reported incidence of meniscal tears in the pediatric age group has increased because of increased sports participation and more widespread use of MRI. Meniscal injury is one of the most commonly reported internal derangements in skeletally immature knees and can be associated with early degenerative joint disease leading to disability. The pediatric meniscus has particularities, and knowledge of normal anatomy, anatomical variations, and the patterns of meniscal injury in the pediatric age group is essential to provide a correct diagnosis.