Açai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) Dietary Supplements: Variations in Anthocyanin and Flavonoid Concentrations, Phenolic Contents, and Antioxidant Properties.

Açai (Euterpe oleracea) is a palm plant that is native to South America and produces deep purple berry fruits. Despite açai's popularity as a dietary supplement, little is known about the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of commercially available açai berry products. Therefore, twenty açai supplements in a variety of forms (e.

Compartment syndrome secondary to spontaneous rupture of a Baker's cyst.

A 49-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease secondary to posterior urethral valves has received two kidney transplants since 1975, and both have succumbed to chronic rejection. She has been anuric since 2003 and undergoes hemodialysis three times a week. She was admitted to our hospital for evaluation for a third kidney transplant.

Dendritic cell amplification of HIV type 1-specific CD8+ T cell responses in exposed, seronegative heterosexual women.

In the Heterosexual AIDS Transmission Study (HATS), the frequency of high-risk sexual activity and viral load in the seropositive partner were shown to correlate with HIV-1 transmission. However, these parameters could not account for the status of some exposed, seronegative (ESN) individuals who remained uninfected despite years of exposure. To test the hypothesis that antiviral immune responses are a correlate of nontransmission in this cohort, we developed two sensitive methods for assessing HIV-1-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses.

Amplification of low-frequency antiviral CD8 T cell responses using autologous dendritic cells.

Objective: To utilize the potent antigen-presenting capacity of mature dendritic cells (MDC) in order to develop a rapid, sensitive method for quantifying antigen-specific CD8 T cells present at low frequency in peripheral blood.

Design: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from seven HIV-1-positive individuals with low to moderate CD8 T cell responses, including five on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays were performed using either monocytes or MDC to present antigens expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses (r-VV).

Quantification of HIV-1-specific T-cell responses at the mucosal cervicovaginal surface.

Objective: To characterize HIV-1 specific cellular immune responses at mucosal surfaces using a rapid, sensitive enzyme-linked immuno-spot (ELISPOT) technique.

Design: Cervicovaginal mononuclear cells obtained from cytobrush and cervicovaginal lavage were assessed for production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in response to stimulation by HIV-1 antigens. HIV-1 specific responses were compared in a cross-sectional study of two HIV-1-positive patient groups: women not currently on antiretroviral therapy with peripheral CD4 cell counts > 250 x 10(6)/l (n = 12); and women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (n = 9).