Adoptive Transfer of Invariant NKT Cells as Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma: A Phase I Clinical Trial.

Invariant NKT cells (iNKT) are innate-like CD1d-restricted T cells with immunoregulatory activity in diseases including cancer. iNKT from advanced cancer patients can have reversible defects including IFNγ production, and iNKT IFNγ production may stratify for survival. Previous clinical trials using iNKT cell activating ligand α-galactosylceramide have shown clinical responses.

Elevated Hospitalization Risk of Assisted Living Residents With Dementia in Alberta, Canada.

Objectives: Assisted living (AL) is an increasingly used residential option for older adults with dementia; however, lower staffing rates and service availability raise concerns that such residents may be at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Our objectives were to determine the incidence of hospitalization over 1 year for dementia residents of designated AL (DAL) facilities, compared with long-term care (LTC) facilities, and identify resident- and facility-level predictors of hospitalization among DAL residents.

Methods: Participants were 609 DAL (mean age 85.

A knowledge transfer study of the utility of the nova scotia seniors' mental health network in implementing seniors' mental health national guidelines.

Background: The Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH) developed national best-practice guidelines in seniors' mental health. Promoting adoption of new guidelines is challenging, as paper dissemination alone has limited impact on practice change.

Purpose: We hypothesized that the existing knowledge transfer (KT) mechanisms of the Nova Scotia Seniors' Mental Health Network would prove useful in transferring the CCSMH best-practice guidelines.

Sustained transfer of knowledge to practice in long-term care: facilitators and barriers of a mental health learning initiative.

This article explores facilitators and barriers to the impact and sustainability of a learning initiative to increase capacity of long-term care (LTC) homes to manage the mental health needs of older persons, through development of in-house Psychogeriatric Resource Persons (PRPs). Twenty interviews were conducted with LTC staff. Management support, particularly designation of time for PRP activities, development of PRP teams, and supportive learning strategies were significant factors affecting sustained knowledge transfer.

Shared geriatric mental health care in a rural community.

Introduction: A pilot project in shared mental health care was initiated to explore opportunities to increase the capacity of the rural primary care system as a resource for older people with mental health needs. This was done within a framework for the delivery of best practices in geriatric mental health outreach.

Methods: Shared-care strategies combining education and clinical consultation between mentor psychiatrists and family physicians were implemented and then evaluated after one year to identify key factors in the success of approaches to shared mental health care for older people in a rural setting.

Evaluation of the sustained implementation of a mental health learning initiative in long-term care.

Background: This paper describes an innovative education program for the management of mental health problems in long-term care (LTC) homes and the evaluation of its longer-term sustainability. Since 1998, the "Putting the P.I.

Defining best practices for specialty geriatric mental health outreach services: lessons for implementing mental health reform.

Objective: This paper reviews fundamental areas that inform best practices for outreach services as they relate to shared care, education, and program and systems development and illustrates a framework for defining best practices.

Method: We examined literature that addresses the needs and characteristics of older persons with mental illness, studies that investigate geriatric mental health outreach services, and relevant theoretical developments. In addition, we synthesized some of the health services field research that we conducted.

Direct measurement of antigen binding properties of CD1 proteins using fluorescent lipid probes.

CD1 proteins are antigen-presenting molecules that bind foreign and self-lipids and stimulate specific T cell responses. In the current study, we investigated ligand binding by CD1 proteins by developing a fluorescent probe binding approach using soluble recombinant human CD1 proteins. To increase stability and yield, soluble group 1 CD1 (CD1b and CD1c) and group 2 CD1 (CD1d) proteins were produced as single chain secreted CD1 proteins in which beta2-microglobulin was fused to the N termini of the CD1 heavy chains by a flexible peptide linker sequence.

Immunization with a mycobacterial lipid vaccine improves pulmonary pathology in the guinea pig model of tuberculosis.

Lipids and glycolipid molecules derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be presented to T cells by CD1 cell-surface molecules in humans. These lipid-specific T cells are cytolytic, secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and have bactericidal activity. Here, we describe studies in which lipids from M.

Induction of CD1-restricted immune responses in guinea pigs by immunization with mycobacterial lipid antigens.

Group 1 CD1 molecules have been shown to present lipid and glycolipid Ags of mycobacteria to human T cells. However, a suitable animal model for the investigation of this component of antimycobacterial immunity has not yet been established. Previously, we found that guinea pigs express multiple isoforms of group 1 CD1 proteins that are homologous to human CD1b and CD1c.

Characterization of guinea-pig group 1 CD1 proteins.

CD1 molecules are cell-surface glycoproteins with strong structural similarities to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, and studies in humans and mice have demonstrated that CD1 proteins perform the unique role of presenting lipid antigens to T lymphocytes. Our previous studies have shown that guinea-pigs, unlike the muroid rodents, have an extended family of group 1 CD1 genes. In the current study, we raised monoclonal anibodies (mAbs) against guinea-pig CD1 proteins and generated transfected cell lines expressing individual members of the guinea-pig CD1 family.