Dexamethasone promotes tolerance in vivo by enriching CD11clo CD40lo tolerogenic macrophages.

We previously showed that antigen immunization in the presence of the immunosuppressant dexamethasone (a strategy we termed "suppressed immunization") could tolerize established recall responses of T cells. However, the mechanism by which dexamethasone acts as a tolerogenic adjuvant has remained unclear. In the present study, we show that dexamethasone enriches CD11c(lo) CD40(lo) macrophages in a dose-dependent manner in the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes of mice by depleting all other CD11c(+) CD40(+) cells including dendritic cells.

Disparities in knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptoms among adult men: an analysis of behavioral risk factor surveillance survey data.

Context: The staggering burden of myocardial infarction and stroke in men and for men of African-American descent in particular provided the impetus for this study. Morbidity and mortality from these vascular disorders can be reduced by early treatment, which requires correct prehospital identification of symptoms.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess current knowledge of myocardial infarction and stroke symptoms and to examine if there were disparities in knowledge of these among U.

Adolescent daily cigarette smoking: is rural residency a risk factor?

Introduction: Daily cigarette smoking among US adolescents remains a significant public health problem. Understanding risk is important in order to develop strategies to reduce this type of tobacco use.

Purpose: The primary objective of this research was to examine whether rural residency is an independent risk factor for being a daily smoker among adolescents ages 12 to 18 years.

Results of chart reviews conducted to evaluate primary care patients seen by second and third year family medicine residents for potential adverse polypharmacy.

Objective: To determine the prescribing patterns of family medicine residents for patients aged more than 60 years with 2 or more chronic diseases and seen at least twice in a 12 month timeframe.

Methods: This is a descriptive analysis which was based on chart reviews. The setting was the University of Illinois-Rockford Family Practice Residency.