Binding specificity of HuScFv to cholangiocarcinoma cells; New avenues for diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very aggressive cancer of the bile ducts. Recent advances in immunotherapy, particularly with human single-chain variable fragments (HuScFv), have shown promise in the treatment of solid tumors by targeting cancer cells or improving the immune response.

Objective: This study aimed to select and produce human single-chain antibody fragments (HuScFv) specific to CCA cells (HubCCA1, RMCCA) from phage display HuScFv libraries with minimum or no binding to cholangiocytes (MMNK1).

Paradoxical eosinophilic and cytokine responses to oral corticosteroid treatment in patients with asthma exacerbations.

Background: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) orchestrates eosinophilic inflammation, which may increase during asthma exacerbations. In contrast, microRNA-1 (miR-1) inhibits TSLP-mediated eosinophil trafficking in lung endothelium. Whether the balance of TSLP and miR-1 levels determines the response to oral corticosteroids (OCSs) during the treatment of asthma exacerbations remains unknown.

Involvement of Transforming Growth Factor-β-Associated Kinase 1 in Fixed Airway Obstruction in Asthmatic Patients with Longer Disease Duration Independent on Airway Eosinophilia.

Objective: Transforming growth factor-β-associated kinase 1 (TAK1) mediates non-canonical TGF-β signalling by promoting adhesive, migratory, proliferative and contractile responses of fibroblasts to TGF-β. However, TAK1 expression status in asthmatic patients with or without fixed airway obstruction (FAO) is unknown.

Patients And Methods: A total of 60 adult asthmatics with FAO were recruited and compared to 43 those without FAO (nFAO).

Transplantation of autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial sheets for limbal stem cell deficiency at Siriraj Hospital: a case series.

Background: The loss of limbal stem cells owing to either corneal burn or inflammation leads to the repopulation of opaque skin over the raw surface of the cornea. It has been proposed that reconstitution of oral mucosal stem cells over this raw surface will mimic the limbal stem cells and restore vision. The efficacy and safety of applying a sheet of cultivated oral mucosal cells as an autologous graft for corneal replacement were evaluated.

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) level as a marker for significant coronary artery disease.

Background: Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway of tryptophan (Trp) degradation, is modulated by inflammation, and is regarded as a key molecule driving immunotolerance and immunosuppressive mechanisms. Little is known about IDO activity in patients with active coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients who were scheduled to undergo coronary angiography.