A model for irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety comorbidities in relation to alcohol use disorders.

About 95% of human body serotonin synthesis occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Lack of sufficient serotonin levels is thought to play a key role in mood disorders, including anxiety disorders. In this study, we looked at a disorder affecting the GI tract, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and aimed to determine whether IBS is differentially associated with anxiety disorders in 252 chronic pain patients in the presence of a history of alcohol use disorders (AUD) given that alcohol is an extremely aggressive substance for the GI mucosa.

Phenotypic and functional characterisation of locally produced natural killer cells ex vivo expanded with the K562-41BBL-mbIL21 cell line.

We characterised the expansion, phenotype and functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells obtained for a clinical trial. Nineteen expansion procedures were performed to obtain NK cell products for 16 patients. NK cells were expanded ex vivo from haploidentical donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of the locally generated feeder cell line K-562 with ectopic expression of 4-1BBL and mbIL-21.

Safety and Immunogenicity of Combined DNA-Polyethylenimine and Oral Bacterial Idiotypic Vaccine for Patients with B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Pilot Study.

We report, in brief, the results of a phase I, non-randomized study of idiotypic DNA vaccination in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ISRCTN31090206). The DNA sequence of lymphoma-derived immunoglobulin variable regions was used as a tumor-specific antigen fused to the potato virus X coat protein. A conjugate of plasmid DNA with polyethylenimine was used for the intramuscular injections, followed by a boost with an oral live-attenuated vaccine carrying the same plasmid.

Phase I clinical trial of idiotypic DNA vaccine administered as a complex with polyethylenimine to patients with B-cell lymphoma.

We report on the design of a phase I, non-randomized, open-label study of idiotypic DNA vaccination in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ISRCTN31090206). The study uses DNA fusion gene vaccination encoding patient-specific single chain variable fragment, or idiotype, linked to an immunostimulatory sequence. Two types of immunostimulatory sequence are being explored: potato virus X coat protein and human chemokine MIP3α.

Cloning of variable fragments of tumor immunoglobulin, assembling and expressing of human SCFV protein in E. coli for anti-idiotype vaccination.

Aim: Idiotype, the unique part of immunoglobulin molecule expressed on the surface of B-cells, represents a specific antigen for vaccination against lymphoma. We have developed a rapid method for immunoglobulin variable fragments cloning, assembling and expression of recombinant idiotype protein in Escherichia coli.

Methods: PCR with specially designed panel of primers was used for direct amplification of variable regions of tumor immunoglobulin.