Immunological priming potentiates non-viral anti-inflammatory gene therapy treatment of neuropathic pain.

We recently described a non-viral gene therapy paradigm offering long-term resolution of established neuropathic pain in several animal models. Here, the requirements for long-term therapeutic effects are described, and evidence is provided for a mechanism of action based on immunological priming of the intrathecal (i.t.

Anti-inflammatory cytokine gene therapy decreases sensory and motor dysfunction in experimental Multiple Sclerosis: MOG-EAE behavioral and anatomical symptom treatment with cytokine gene therapy.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that presents clinically with a range of symptoms including motor, sensory, and cognitive dysfunction as well as demyelination and lesion formation in brain and spinal cord. A variety of animal models of MS have been developed that share many of the pathological hallmarks of MS including motor deficits (ascending paralysis), demyelination and axonal damage of central nervous system (CNS) tissue. In recent years, neuropathic pain has been recognized as a prevalent symptom of MS in a majority of patients.

Assessing dental caries prevalence in African-American youth and adults.

It has been well documented that dental caries affect millions of children in the USA with the majority experiencing decay by the late teens. This is especially true for low-income minorities. The objective of this descriptive study was to determine dental caries prevalence in a sample of low-income African-American youth and adults.

Streptococcus mutans levels and caries prevalence in low-income schoolchildren.

Previous studies have shown that persons having high Streptococcus mutans levels in the saliva are "at risk" for dental caries. Most investigators agree, that if high levels of S. mutans were identified early in the life of at-risk children, dental decay could be reduced or eliminated through intervention.