The Role of the Microbiome in Food Allergy: A Review.

Food allergies are common and estimated to affect 8% of children and 11% of adults in the United States. They pose a significant burden-physical, economic and social-to those affected. There is currently no available cure for food allergies.

Soybean isoflavones regulate dendritic cell function and suppress allergic sensitization to peanut.

Background: Although peanut and soybean proteins share extensive amino acid sequence homology, the incidence and severity of allergic reactions to soy are much less than those to peanut. Soybeans are rich in anti-inflammatory isoflavones and are the most common source of isoflavones in the human food supply.

Objective: We hypothesized that the active isoflavones in the gut milieu are capable of modulating immune responses to dietary antigens by regulating dendritic cell (DC) function.

Patient and disease related factors associated with lost-to follow-up/drop-outs of cervical cancer patients: a study at a Major Cancer Hospital in South India.

Objective: Cervical cancer is the one of most common cancer in India, and a significant proportion of patients do not complete the prescribed courses of treatment and post therapy surveillance, due to deficiencies in treatment availability, accessibility, affordability and other socio-demographic factors.

Materials And Methods: Cervical cancer patient data for the year 2006-2007 were collected during June-August, 2008 from the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India and investigated for socio-economic, demographic and disease (SEDD) related factors impacting patients to drop-out during treatment and patients to loss to follow-up (LFU) post therapy. Odds ratio (OR) for drop-out and LFU and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to SEDD factors were estimated through logistic regression model.

NIR laser tissue welding of in vitro porcine cornea and sclera tissue.

Background And Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that an near infrared (NIR) laser system (1,455 nm) in combination with a motorized translational stage to control the position and speed of the laser beam and a shutter to control the laser exposure to the tissue being welded could be used to successfully weld ocular tissues.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Seventy-five porcine corneas and 23 porcine scleral tissues were welded in vitro in this study. The welded tissues were examined using histopathology and tensile strength analysis.