The ART of tumor immune escape.

We recently identified the adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP)-ribosyltransferase-1 (ART1) as a novel immune checkpoint expressed by cancer cells. ART1 utilizes free nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to mono-ADP-ribosylate (MARylate) the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) on CD8 T cells, resulting in NAD-induced cell death (NICD) and tumor immune resistance. This process is blocked by therapeutic antibody targeting of ART1.

Trends in Barrett's esophagus diagnosis in Southern Europe: implications for surveillance.

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased in Western countries in recent decades. The aim of this study is to describe the changes in incidence and prevalence of BE diagnosis, dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma development in BE patients in a South-European Mediterranean area. Retrospective population-based analyses of endoscopy and pathology reports from 1976 to 2001 was performed.

A dopamine D2 receptor gene-related polymorphism is associated with schizophrenia in a Spanish population isolate.

Numerous lines of evidence have highlighted the involvement of the dopamine system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Association studies of dopaminergic genes such as the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2), however, have produced contradictory results. To test the hypothesis that DRD2 polymorphisms are associated with schizophrenia, we investigated two DRD2-related polymorphisms (TaqI A1/A2 or rs1800497 and -141-C Ins/Del or rs1799732) in a Spanish population isolate from northern Spain consisting of 165 controls and 119 patients with schizophrenia.

Association of the dysbindin gene with bipolar affective disorder.

Objective: In the study of bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia, there is some evidence suggesting a phenotypic and genetic overlap between the two disorders. A possible link between bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia remains arguable, however. The authors hypothesized that dysbindin, which is a probable susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, was associated with bipolar affective disorder and tested this hypothesis using a case-control design study.

CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection is not associated with decreased risk of Barrett's esophagus in a population with high H. pylori infection rate.

Background & Aim: The role that H. pylori infection plays in the development of and Barrett's esophagus (BE) is uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that infection with cagA+ Helicobacter pylori strains protects against the development of BE.

Risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with non-aspirin cardiovascular drugs, analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with non-aspirin cardiovascular drug therapy, common analgesics and individual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Methods: The case group was made up of 1122 consecutive patients admitted with bleeding from a peptic lesion. The 2231 control subjects consisted of 1109 patients hospitalized for other reasons and 1122 outpatients from the same geographical area.