Effect of Adipose Stem Cells Injection on Type VII and VIII Collagen Expression of Wistar Rat's Gingiva.

Aims: This study investigated the effect of injection of adipose stem cells (ASCs) on the expression of type VII and VIII collagen in Wistar rat's gingiva. Adipose stem cells can modulate the immune system, angiogenesis, wound healing, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling.

Materials And Methods: Ten Wistar rats aged three months were divided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group.

Streptococcus pneumoniae binds to host GAPDH on dying lung epithelial cells worsening secondary infection following influenza.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) alone and during co-infection with influenza A virus (IAV) can result in severe pneumonia with mortality. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is an established virulence factor required for Spn evasion of lactoferricin and C-reactive protein-activated complement-mediated killing. Herein, we show that PspA functions as an adhesin to dying host cells.

The Modified Surface Killing Assay Distinguishes between Protective and Nonprotective Antibodies to PspA.

Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) elicits antibody protective against lethal challenge by and is a candidate noncapsular antigen for inclusion in vaccines. Evaluation of immunity to PspA in human trials would be greatly facilitated by an functional assay able to distinguish protective from nonprotective antibodies to PspA. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to PspA can mediate killing by human granulocytes in the modified surface killing assay (MSKA).

Bridging the gap: a collaborative to reduce peripherally inserted central catheter infections in the home care environment.

Background: Ochsner Health System agreed to participate in a nationwide collaboration to reduce central line infections in our intensive care units. Our outpatient peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) infection rate was unacceptably high, so as an adjunct to the nationwide study we attempted to reduce PICC infections in the home care environment. Typically, home health nurses or outpatient infusion centers care for PICCs per protocol.

Modified opsonization, phagocytosis, and killing assays to measure potentially protective antibodies against pneumococcal surface protein A.

The standard opsonophagocytosis killing assay (OPKA) for antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide was modified to permit an evaluation of the protection-mediating antibodies to pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). We found that by increasing the incubation time with the complement and phagocytes from 45 min to 75 min, the protective activity was readily detected. In another modification, we used a capsule type 2 target strain that expressed PspA but not pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC).