First-in-human, Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial of Differentially Adjuvanted PAMVAC, A Vaccine Candidate to Prevent Pregnancy-associated Malaria.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy has major impacts on mother and child health. To complement existing interventions, such as intermittent preventive treatment and use of impregnated bed nets, we developed a malaria vaccine candidate with the aim of reducing sequestration of asexual "blood-stage" parasites in the placenta, the major virulence mechanism.

Methods: The vaccine candidate PAMVAC is based on a recombinant fragment of VAR2CSA, the Plasmodium falciparum protein responsible for binding to the placenta via chondroitin sulfate A (CSA).

Potential of quantitative SEPT9 and SHOX2 methylation in plasmatic circulating cell-free DNA as auxiliary staging parameter in colorectal cancer: a prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Septin 9 (SEPT9) and short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) methylation in circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) are powerful biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, as well as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma staging and monitoring. In the present study, we investigated SEPT9 and SHOX2 ccfDNA methylation as auxiliary pre and post-therapeutic staging parameters in CRC patients.

Methods: ccfDNA methylation was quantified in 184 prospectively enrolled patients prior to and 3-10 days after surgery, and biomarker levels were associated with clinico-pathological parameters.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells contribute to CD8 T cell tolerance toward circulating carcinoembryonic antigen in mice.

Unlabelled: Immunity against cancer is impeded by local mechanisms promoting development of tumor-specific T cell tolerance, such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, or immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment. The release of soluble antigens, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells, has been investigated for diagnostic purposes, but not for its immunological consequences. Here, we address the question of whether soluble CEA influences tumor-specific immunity.

Extraosseous osteosarcoma arising from the small intestinal mesentery.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (EOS) is a highly aggressive and exceedingly rare mesenchymal tumor. Due to the rare nature of the disease, the diagnosis can be difficult and is often confirmed only after diagnostic laparotomy and histopathology. We describe the clinical history, radiologic and histomorphologic presentation, and clinical management of a 61-year-old patient who presented with abdominal pain.

[Possible applications of Y chromosome STRs in examination of abortion tissue].

By application of Y-chromosomal STRs, DNA analysis of abortion material can be considerably facilitated since great excess of maternal DNA is tolerated without disturbing the Y-STR amplification. If paternity can't be excluded on the basis of the Y-STR haplotype, further examinations must follow, e.g.

The use of semifluorinated alkanes in blood-substitutes.

Semifluorinated alkanes are useful for blood-substitutes in two different ways: as co-surfactant to stabilize emulsions with perfluorocarbons as oxygen-carrier and as oxygen-carrier instead of perfluorocarbons. Semifluorinated alkanes act as co-surfactants in low concentrations because they are enriched at the interface perfluorodecalin/water. Emulsions with semifluorinated alkanes dissolve about the same amount of oxygen as emulsions with perfluorocarbons.

On the perfluorocarbon emulsions of second generation.

For formulation of perfluorocarbon-emulsions (PFC-emulsions) of second generation new perfluorocarbons (F-dimorpholines, F-dipiperidines and F-cyclohexylmorpholine) were synthesized, acting both as oxygen carriers and as interfacial active compounds (IFACs). The stabilizing effect of these IFACs is interpreted and a new theory is introduced. Also new classes of fluorosurfactants were synthesized and tested for biocompatibility.

On the perfluorocarbon emulsions of second generation.

Perfluorocarbon-emulsions of second generation were prepared by means of new perfluorocarbons (F-dimorpholines, F-dipiperidines and F-cyclohexylmorpholine), acting both as oxygen carriers and as interfacial active compounds (IFACs). The stabilizing effect of these IFACs is interpreted and a new theory is introduced. Also new classes of fluorosurfactants were synthesized and tested for biocompatibility.

[Tactics and results of surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism].

Following a brief overview on parathyroid surgery, ontogenesis, anatomy and physiology of the parathyroids are described. Clinical symptoms and signs of hyperparathyroidism are as variable as the topography of parathyroid bodies may be. While parathyroid hyperfunction can easily be demonstrated by determination of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, preoperative localization of adenoma or hyperplastic gland remains unsatisfactory in spite of great technical efforts.

Clinical results of immunoscintigraphy in a variety of malignant tumors with special reference to immunohistochemistry.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy was performed in 52 patients with a variety of malignant tumors (colorectal, melanoma, lung, testicular, ovarian, bladder, carcinoid). Respective antibodies or their F(ab')2 fragments against CEA (n = 23), melanoma antigen 225.28 S (n = 18), TPA (n = 4), beta HCG (n = 5) and HMFG2 (n = 2) were selected by immunohistochemistry of the primary tumor.

Suppression and enhancement of humoral antibody formation by herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.

Intraperitoneal infection of mice and rats by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but not type 1 (HSV-1) resulted in suppression of antibody formation on subsequent challenge with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Application of silica considerably enhanced antibody formation after primary HSV-1 infection, but only slightly after primary HSV-2 infection. Suppression induced by HSV-2 was, however, reduced significantly by injection of silica 21 days later, on the day of the second injection of HSV-2.

Differences in humoral immunogenicity between herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.

Infection of NMRI mice with increasing doses of six different strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) induced increasing levels of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, three strains of HSV-2, irrespective of the dose, induced only marginal antibody responses. Only strain HG 52 (HSV-2) at high doses of infection stimulated antibody formation.

Fusion from without induced by herpes simplex virus type 1.

Strains ANG and ANG path of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) produced fusion from without (FFWO) of cells in culture. FFWO required 45 min to become complete. In contrast, fusion from within (FFWI) was not detected until 3-4 h after infection, depending on the cell type.

Loss of surface fibronectin after infection of cultured cells by HSV-1 and 2.

Fibronectin is lost from the surface of HSV infected cells during cell rounding. In order to investigate also the fate of fibronectin during the process of HSV-induced cell-fusion, BHK, Vero as well as primary or secondary rabbit kidney cells were infected with HSV-1 strains producing cell-fusion. By immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy a considerable loss of fibronectin after HSV infection could be demonstrated leaving only irregular clumps of fibronectin containing virus particles on the cell surface.

Enhancement of antibody formation against herpes simplex virus in mice by the T-cell mitogen bestatin.

The influence of the T-lymphocyte-stimulating dipeptide bestatin on the induction of neutralizing antibodies against herpes simplex virus type 1 in the mouse was investigated. Dose-response experiments revealed two active ranges from 1 ng/kg to 100 ng/kg and from 10 micrograms/kg to 10 mg/kg or more. Bestatin (10 mg/kg) enhanced antibody levels after primary infection, if injected between day 5 and day 8 after infection with a maximum effect at day 5.

Kinetics and genetics of herpes simplex virus-induced antibody formation in mice.

The kinetics of antibody synthesis was investigated after intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and footpad infection of various strains of mice with herpes simplex virus. Immunoglobulin M antibodies appeared 5 days after and immunoglobulin G antibodies appeared 10 to 12 days after intraperitoneal infection with herpes simplex virus type 1. The major histocompatibility complex and the background genome of inbred mice were not found to have a systematical influence on antibody synthesis.