Neoadjuvant rituximab modulates the tumor immune environment in patients with high risk prostate cancer.

Background: Immunotherapeutic regulation of the tumor microenvironment in prostate cancer patients is not understood. Most antibody immunotherapies have not succeeded in prostate cancer. We showed previously that high-risk PCa patients have a higher density of tumor infiltrating B-cells in prostatectomy specimens.

Effects of subtotal fasting on plasmatic coagulation, fibrinolytic status and platelet activation: a controlled pilot study in healthy subjects.

Background And Aim: There is considerable controversy as to whether fasting can be recommended to patients with cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether a well-known method of 1-week subtotal fasting affects hemostasis in healthy subjects.

Methods And Results: Analyses were carried out before, four times during and 3 days after fasting in 12 fasting subjects (< 300 kcal/day, only from carbohydrates) (group 1), and 8 control subjects (group 2).

Adhesion of monocytes to medical steel as used for vascular stents is mediated by the integrin receptor Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18; alphaM beta2) and can be inhibited by semiconductor coating.

Implantation of stents into stenosed arteries helps to restore normal blood flow in ischemic organs. However, limited biocompatibility of the applied medical steel can cause acute thrombosis and long-term restenosis. Adhesion of monocytes to stent metal may participate in those acute and long-term complications of stent placement.