Comparative Sample Preparation Using Focused Ion Beam and Ultramicrotomy of Human Dental Enamel and Dentine for Multimicroscopic Imaging at Micro- and Nanoscale.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to systematically compare TEM sections of mineralized human enamel and dentine prepared by focused ion beam (in situ lift-out) technique and ultramicrotomy through a combination of microscopic examination methods (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy). In contrast with published studies, we compared the TEM preparation methods using the same specimen blocks as those for the ultramicrotomy and FIB technique. (2) Methods: A further evaluation of TEM sample preparation was obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Multiplexing analysis of the polyspecific intrathecal immune response in multiple sclerosis.

Intrathecal synthesis of the antibodies specific to neurotrofic viruses: measles (M), rubella (R), Varicella-Zoster (Z), and/or H. simplex (H), known as "MRZH-reaction" plays important diagnostic role in multiple sclerosis (MS). Whereas the analysis of the oligoclonal IgG bands provides high sensitivity, the MRZH-reaction shows high specificity, and hence these methods complement each other.

Tryptophan catabolism is associated with acute GVHD after human allogeneic stem cell transplantation and indicates activation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway, acts as a potent immunoregulatory loop. To address its role in human allogeneic stem cell transplantation, we measured major tryptophan metabolites, such as quinolinic acid and kynurenine, in serial urine specimens from 51 patients by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were collected between admission and day 90 after transplantation, and metabolite levels were correlated with early clinical events and outcome.

Molecular and functional characterization of allogantigen-specific anergic T cells suitable for cell therapy.

Background: CD4(+) regulatory T cells are a specialized subset of T cells that actively control immune responses. Several experimental protocols have been used to expand natural regulatory T cells and to generate adaptive type 1 regulatory T cells for regulatory T-cell-based therapies.

Design And Methods: The ability of exogenous recombinant human interleukin-10 to induce alloantigen-specific anergy in T cells was investigated and compared to that of interleukin-10 derived from tolerogenic dendritic cells, in mixed lymphocyte cultures.

Social support group attendance is related to blood pressure, health behaviours, and quality of life in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project.

Changes in coronary risk factors, health behaviours, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were examined by tertiles of social support group attendance in 440 patients (21% females) with coronary artery disease. All patients participated in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project (MLDP; eight hospital sites in the USA), an insurance-covered multi-component cardiac prevention program including dietary changes, stress management, exercise and group support for 1 year. Significant improvements in coronary risk factors, health behaviours, and HRQOL were noted at 1 year.

Emotional support for men and women with cancer: do patients receive what their partners provide?

Objectives: In the context of mainly gastrointestinal cancer surgery, the study examines the course of spousal support in 173 dyads over half a year to illuminate the function of gender in support transactions.

Method: Provided and received emotional support were assessed in 108 male patient/female partner couples and 65 female patient/male partner couples. Using the Berlin Social Support Scales, assessments took place during the week before cancer surgery, 1 month, and 6 months after cancer surgery.

Support provider's appraisal detection bias and the efficacy of received support in medical students preparing for an exam.

Matching social support to the recipient's needs requires diagnostic sensitivity on the part of the provider. In particular, support needs to be responsive to the recipient's stress-related appraisals to be maximally effective. To assess the impact of bias in interpersonal stress assessment, medical students in 43 dyads reported on their own and each other's stress appraisals, social support, affect and performance during a 5-day preparation period culminating in a multiple choice examination.

Skin explant model of human graft-versus-host disease: prediction of clinical outcome and correlation with biological risk factors.

A human skin explant model has been used to predict the clinical outcome and to study the immunopathology of human graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Whether the model gives the same predictive effect for GVHD in different hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) settings has not been assessed. It is also unknown whether the skin explant result reflects the known biological risk factors for clinical GVHD.

Medical patients' attitudes toward emotional problems and their treatment. What do they really want?

Background: Understanding medical patients' attitudes toward emotional problems and their management is crucial to overcoming obstacles to efficient depression treatment.

Objective: To investigate attitudes toward emotional problems, psychotherapy, antidepressants, alternative treatment approaches, and self-management techniques in depressed and nondepressed medical outpatients.

Design: Cross-sectional interview study, including quantitative and qualitative methods.

Reverse signalling of membrane-integrated tumour necrosis factor differentially regulates alloresponses of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells against human microvascular endothelial cells.

Reverse signalling of membrane-integrated ligands is a common phenomenon in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family and contributes to the pleiotropy of this pro-inflammatory cytokine and to the plasticity of the immune system in general. Transmembrane TNF (mTNF) itself can induce resistance to bacterial endotoxin in monocytes and can stimulate the immune activity of mitogen-activated, as well as of virus-infected, T cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of reverse signalling of mTNF on the allogeneic activity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells against human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC), as targets of various inflammatory responses.

Turning the tide: benefit finding after cancer surgery.

Post-traumatic growth and benefit finding after adverse life events are emerging topics in stress and coping research. This study examined personal and social resources of cancer patients and their perception of positive life changes as a consequence of illness. In addition, the mediating role of coping strategies (acceptance and social comparison) was investigated.

The role of IL-10 and TGF-beta in the differentiation and effector function of T regulatory cells.

Suppression by T regulatory (Tr) cells is essential for the induction of peripheral tolerance. Many types of CD4+ Tr cells have been described in a number of systems, and although the precise mechanisms which mediate their effects remain to be defined, it is well established that they can suppress immune responses via cell-cell interactions and/or the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Type 1 T regulatory (Tr1) cells are defined by their ability to produce high levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta, and these cytokines mediate their ability to suppress pathological immune responses in the settings of transplantation, allergy and autoimmune disease.

Interleukin-10 modulation of alloreactivity and graft-versus-host reactions.

Background: The biological properties of interleukin (IL)-10 in tolerance induction and inhibition of alloreactivity have suggested a therapeutic use of this cytokine as an additional or alternative prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). However, the effects of exogenous IL-10 on GvHD are mainly studied in animal models, and the results remain conflicting. This study aims to demonstrate, for the first time, whether the addition of exogenous IL-10 can reduce the severity of graft-versus-host reactions (GvHR) in humans.