Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic healthy non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Background And Aim: Cardiovascular disease progresses after menopause. Conventional risk factors, particularly diabetes, for atherosclerosis are well-established predictors of phenotypic arterial disease. The aim of this study is to assess the predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

D-Learning and COVID-19 Crisis: Appraisal of Reactions and Means of Perpetuity.

Distance Learning (D-learning), as an alternative educational solution for students who cannot attend in-person classes, has been deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver the promises promoted long ago by technology and education experts. For many professors and students, the shift was a first as they had to resume their classes fully online despite not being academically competent to do so. This research paper examines the D-learning scenario introduced by Moulay Ismail University (MIU).

Modes of presentation of reactive arthritis based on the affected joints.

Introduction: Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune condition that occurs as a reaction against an infection site elsewhere in the body. Reactive arthritis affects mostly young ages, mainly group age 20-40 y.o.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with biologic DMARDS (Rituximab and Etanercept).

Goal: To determine efficacy and safety of treatment with Rituximab and Etanercept plus Methotrexate in patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), who had an inadequate response to nonbiologic DMARDS therapies and to explore the pharmacogenetics and pharmacodynamics of Rituximab and Etanercept in our populations. Study was done at Rheumatology Clinic of University Clinical Centre in Prishtina during 2009-2011 years.

Methods: We evaluated primary efficacy and safety at 24 weeks in patients enrolled in the study of long-term efficacy of Rituximab and Etanercept.

New thymine-based derivative of nitrogen mustards.

This work deals with the synthesis of a new nitrogen mustard derivative based on thymine. To introduce the bis(2-chloroethyl)amine group to position 4 of the pyrimidine base, many strategies were explored and the desired compound was finally obtained, thanks to a synthetic pathway in five steps.

Brassinosteroids and analogs as neuroprotectors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.

We have demonstrated previously that the brassinosteroid (BR) 24-epibrassinolide exerts neuroprotective effects deriving from its antioxidative properties. In this study, we synthesized 2 natural BRs and 5 synthetic analogs and analyzed their neuroprotective actions in neuronal PC12 cells, against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)), a neurotoxin known to induce oxidative stress and degenerescence of dopaminergic neurons characteristic of Parkinsonian brains. We also tested the neuroprotective potential of 2 commercially available BRs.

An engineered Plasmodium falciparum C-terminal 19-kilodalton merozoite surface protein 1 vaccine candidate induces high levels of interferon-gamma production associated with cellular immune responses to specific peptide sequences in Gambian adults naturally exposed to malaria.

The 19-kDa C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(19)), a major blood stage malaria vaccine candidate, is the target of cellular and humoral immune responses in humans naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum. We have previously described engineered variants of this protein, designed to be better vaccine candidates, but the human immune response to these proteins has not been characterized fully. Here we have investigated the antigenicity of one such variant compared to wild-type MSP1(19)-derived protein and peptides.

Plasmodium falciparum infection of the placenta impacts on the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 balance of neonatal T cells through CD4(+)CD25(+) forkhead box P3(+) regulatory T cells and interleukin-10.

Placental malaria infection affects the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 balance in neonatal children. We investigated a potential role of regulatory T cells in this balance by comparing T cell responses of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) from parasitized and non-parasitized placenta of Gambian women. CBMC were depleted of CD4(+)CD25(+) forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)(+) regulatory T cells and analysed in vitro for their ability to produce interferon (IFN)-gamma, sCD30 and interleukin (IL)-10 in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), live Plasmodium falciparum, schizont extracts and the recombinant P.

Genetic stability of the live attenuated Bordetella pertussis vaccine candidate BPZE1.

Despite the extensive use of efficacious pertussis vaccines, Bordetella pertussis infections are still among the main causes for childhood morbidity and mortality. Severe pertussis occurs mostly in very young children, often too young to be sufficiently protected by current vaccines, which require several administrations in regimens that vary between countries. Since natural infection with B.

Risk factors for and clinical outcome of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in a peri-urban West-African birth cohort.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most prevalent congenital infection worldwide. Epidemiology and clinical outcomes are known to vary with socio-economic background, but few data are available from developing countries, where the overall burden of infectious diseases is frequently high.

Methodology/principal Findings: As part of an ongoing birth cohort study in The Gambia among term infants, urine samples were collected at birth and tested by PCR for the presence of CMV DNA.

Cytomegalovirus infection in Gambian infants leads to profound CD8 T-cell differentiation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is endemic in Gambian infants, with 62% infected by 3 months and 85% by 12 months of age. We studied the CD8 T-cell responses of infants to CMV following primary infection. CMV-specific CD8 T cells, identified with tetramers, showed a fully differentiated phenotype (CD28(-) CD62L(-) CD95(+) perforin(+) granzyme A(+) Bcl-2(low)).

Low-level malaria infections detected by a sensitive polymerase chain reaction assay and use of this technique in the evaluation of malaria vaccines in an endemic area.

The feasibility of using a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate malaria vaccines in small group sizes was tested in 102 adult Gambian volunteers who received either the malaria vaccine regimen FP9 ME-TRAP/MVA ME-TRAP or rabies vaccine. All volunteers received the antimalarial drugs primaquine and Lapdap plus artesunate to eliminate malaria parasites. Volunteers in a further group received an additional single treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) to prevent new infections.

Safety and immunogenicity of the malaria candidate vaccines FP9 CS and MVA CS in adult Gambian men.

We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of prime-boost vectors encoding the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (CS) protein expressed either in the attenuated fowl-pox virus (FP9) or modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). Thirty-two adult Gambians in groups of four to eight received one, two or three doses of FP9 CS and/or MVA CS. No serious adverse event was observed following vaccination.

Immunoglobulin G antibodies to merozoite surface antigens are associated with recovery from chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Gambian children.

We examined the hypothesis that recovery from uncomplicated malaria in patients carrying drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum is a measure of acquired functional immunity and may therefore be associated with humoral responses to candidate vaccine antigens. Gambian children with malaria were treated with chloroquine in 28-day trials, and recovery was defined primarily as the absence of severe clinical malaria at any time and absence of parasitemia with fever after 3 days. Plasma samples from these children were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G (IgG) to recombinant merozoite antigens: apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) and the 19-kDa C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1(19)), including antigenic variants of MSP-1(19) with double and triple substitutions.

Plasmodium falciparum infection of the placenta affects newborn immune responses.

The effects of exposure to placental malaria infection on newborn immunological responses, in particular Th1/Th2 cytokines and antigen-presenting cell (APC) function, were compared between cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) from parasitized and non-parasitized placentas of Gambian women. Cells were analysed in vitro for their ability to respond to mitogens [phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)], a malaria-unrelated test antigen [purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculin[purified protein derivative (PPD)] and Plasmodium falciparum schizont extracts. Mitogens induced strong proliferation and secretion of high concentrations of both IL-13 and sCD30 in CBMC from both groups.

Human gamma delta T cells induce dendritic cell maturation.

gamma delta T cells are known to be involved in the innate immune defenses against infectious microorganisms. Herein, we considered that gamma delta T cells could also influence adaptative immunity by interacting with dendritic cells (DC) in the early phase of the immune response. To investigate this hypothesis, gamma delta T cells isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers were cocultured with autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells, which were subsequently analyzed for their expression of key surface molecules and for their production of IL-12.

Monophosphoryl lipid A activates both human dendritic cells and T cells.

The induction of dendritic cell (DC) maturation is critical for the induction of Ag-specific T lymphocyte responses and may be essential for the development of human vaccines relying on T cell immunity. In this study, we have investigated the effects of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) on human monocyte-derived DC as well as peripheral blood T cells. Calcium mobilization, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, and the NF-kappaB transcription factor were induced after MPL stimulation of DC and required high doses of MPL (100 microg/ml).

Neonatal bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination induces adult-like IFN-gamma production by CD4+ T lymphocytes.

The immaturity of the neonatal immune system in mice is associated with defective IFN-gamma production and Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, infants vaccinated at birth with BCG produced similar concentrations of IFN-gamma in response to PPD and showed similar frequencies of IFN-gamma-producing lymphocytes as compared to immune adults. Infants and adults produced only low concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5.

Impaired antigen-presenting cell function contributes to T-cell hyporesponsiveness in stable lung transplant recipients.

Background: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of stable renal or cardiac transplant recipients were previously shown to respond to allogeneic cells but not to soluble protein antigens. The aim of the present study was to assess the T-cell and antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions of stable lung transplant (LT) recipients.

Methods: We obtained PBMC from 38 stable LT recipients.

Inhibition of the CD40 pathway of monocyte activation by triazolopyrimidine.

Blockade of the CD40/CD40L pathway of monocyte/macrophage activation represents a promising strategy for the treatment of several inflammatory disorders. So far, most pharmacological agents developed for that purpose target CD40L (CD154) expressed on activated T cells. Herein, we provide evidence that triazolopyrimidine, a chemical compound primarily developed for the prevention of arterial thrombosis, strongly inhibits the response of human monocytes to CD40 ligation.

Azodicarbonamide inhibits T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo.

Azodicarbonamide was recently identified as a new anti-HIV agent that targets the zinc finger domains of the HIV-1 NCp7 nucleocapsid protein. Here, we demonstrate that azodicarbonamide inhibits in a dose-dependent manner the responses of purified human CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated either by monoclonal antibodies against CD3 and CD28 or by allogeneic dendritic cells. These suppressive effects involve a direct action on the calcium mobilization machinery, as azodicarbonamide strongly inhibited the calcium influx induced either by antibodies against CD3 and CD28 or the chemokine RANTES, as well as by thapsigargin, an activator of depletion-activated calcium channels.

Trypanosoma cruzi infects human dendritic cells and prevents their maturation: inhibition of cytokines, HLA-DR, and costimulatory molecules.

Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasitic protozoan, is the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Despite the many immune system disorders recognized in this infection and the crucial role played by dendritic cells (DC) in acquired immune responses, it was not known whether these cells could be infected by T. cruzi trypomastigotes and the consequences of such an infection on their immune functions.

Molecular and cellular basis of the altered immune response against arsonate in irradiated A/J mice autologously reconstituted.

The humoral immune response to arsonate (Ars) in normal A/J mice is dominated in the late primary and particularly in the secondary response by a recurrent and dominant idiotype (CRIA) which is encoded by a single canonical combination of the variable gene segments: VHidcr11-DFL16.1-JH2 and Vkappa10-Jkappa1. Accumulation of somatic mutations within cells expressing this canonical combination or some less frequent Ig rearrangements results in the generation of high-affinity antibodies.

Susceptibility of bovine antigen-presenting cells to infection by bovine herpesvirus 1 and in vitro presentation to T cells: two independent events.

The aim of the present study was to develop an in vitro system for presentation of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) antigens to bovine T lymphocytes and to characterize the antigen-presenting cells (APC) which efficiently activate CD4(+) T cells. Two approaches were used to monitor the infection of APC by BHV-1 as follows: (i) detection of viral glycoproteins at the cell surface by immunofluorescence staining and (ii) detection of UL26 transcripts by reverse transcription-PCR. The monocytes were infected, while dendritic cells (DC) did not demonstrate any detectable viral expression.

In vivo and in vitro assessment of B-B cell interactions: inhibition of proliferation and antibody production of the CRIA B cells mediated by the surface immunoglobulins of anti-CRIA B cells.

In this work we have assessed the effect of cell surface anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) of anti-idiotypic B cells on their idiotypic counterparts in vivo and in vitro, as a surrogate for soluble anti-surface Ig, using the well-characterized anti-arsonate system. The response of A/J mice against the hapten arsonate coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (ARS-KLH) is dominated by a closely related family of antibodies sharing the same determinant, named the CRIA idiotype. We show herein that a massive induction of anti-CRIA B cells, subsequent to immunization with the mAb 3665 (CRIA+, arsonate binding) coupled to KLH, mediated a strong and long-lasting inhibition of this dominant oligoclonal response to arsonate.