Expressions of programmed death (PD)-1 and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous cell carcinomas are of prognostic value and associated with human papillomavirus status.

Aim: The programmed death 1/programmed death 1 ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway can decrease the immune clearance effects of antigen-presenting cells and T lymphocytes to promote immune evasion of cervical cancer cells. However, the effects of this pathway on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastasis are not clear. We herein investigated whether human papillomavirus infection could affect PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in CIN, and whether their expression is associated with CIN progression and SCC metastasis.

Role of Berberine in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid widely used in the treatment of microbial infections. Recent studies have shown that berberine can enhance the inhibitory efficacy of antibiotics against clinical multi-drug resistant isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Adoptive transfer of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells decreases inhibitory and regulatory T-cell differentiation and improves survival in murine polymicrobial sepsis.

A decrease in the number of dendritic cells (DCs) is a major cause of post-sepsis immunosuppression and opportunistic infection and is closely associated with poor prognosis. Increasing the number of DCs to replenish their numbers post sepsis can improve the condition. This therapeutic approach could improve recovery after sepsis.

N-acetylcysteine administration is associated with reduced activation of NF-kB and preserves lung dendritic cells function in a zymosan-induced generalized inflammation model.

Purpose: In severe sepsis, functional impairment and decreased numbers of dendritic cells (DCs) are essential reasons for immune function paralysis, secondary organ infection, and organ failure. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration on protecting lung DCs function in a zymosan-induced generalized inflammation (ZIGI) model.

Methods: ZIGI was initiated in 80 Balb/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of zymosan (ZYM; 900 mg/kg).

Treatment with gelsolin reduces brain inflammation and apoptotic signaling in mice following thermal injury.

Background: Burn survivors develop long-term cognitive impairment with increased inflammation and apoptosis in the brain. Gelsolin, an actin-binding protein with capping and severing activities, plays a crucial role in the septic response. We investigated if gelsolin infusion could attenuate neural damage in burned mice.

[Preparation and preliminary application of rabbit polyclonal antibodies against intracellular peptides of human platelet glycoprotein GPIbalpha].

Objective: To prepare rabbit polyclonal antibodies against intracellular peptides of human platelet glycoprotein GPIbalpha.

Methods: Two peptides corresponding to human platelet GPIbalpha C-terminus were synthesized and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peptides were cross-linked with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).