Background: Leishmaniasis represents a significant parasitic disease with global health implications, and the development of an affordable and effective vaccine could provide a valuable solution. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine targeting Leishmania major specifically based on the Leishmania-activated C kinase (LACK) antigen, utilizing calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPNs) and chitosan nanoparticles (ChitNs) as adjuvants.
Methods: Seventy female BALB/c mice, aged 4-6 wk and weighing 20-22 g, were selected and divided into five groups, each consisting of 14 mice. The first group received the plasmid LACK vaccine (pcDN3+LACK), the second group received the pcDN3+LACK vaccine with the CaPN adjuvant (pcDN3+LACK+CaPN), the third group received the pcDN3+LACK vaccine with the ChitN adjuvant (pcDN3+LACK+ChitN), the fourth group was administered phosphate-buffered saline as a negative control and the fifth group did not receive any vaccine, serving as a positive control. The vaccination program involved two intramuscular injections at 3-wk intervals. Three weeks following the final vaccination, the mice were challenged with wild-type L. major promastigotes via intradermal injection at the base of their tails. Clinical signs and lesion sizes were evaluated biweekly using Vernier calipers. Immune responses, including levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), were assessed using ELISA.
Results: The groups receiving pcDN3+LACK+ChitN, pcDN3+LACK+CaPN and pcDN3+LACK exhibited the highest increases in IFN-γ titers and the most significant reductions in IL-4 titers. Furthermore, lesion sizes associated with Leishmania infection were reduced in the vaccinated groups, with the most favorable outcomes observed in the pcDN3+LACK+ChitN group.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that vaccination utilizing the LACK antigen in conjunction with CaPN and ChitN adjuvants may represent an effective strategy for the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae126 | DOI Listing |
Am J Sports Med
January 2025
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Background: Mismatch between osteochondral allograft (OCA) donor and recipient sex has been shown to negatively affect outcomes. This study accounts for additional donor variables and clinically relevant outcomes.
Purpose: To evaluate whether donor sex, age, donor-recipient sex mismatch, and duration of graft storage affect clinical outcomes and failure rates after knee OCA transplantation.
Am J Sports Med
January 2025
Section of Young Adult Hip Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Background: Many studies have examined the prevalence of acetabular version (AV) and femoral version (FV) abnormalities and their effect on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), but few have explored the prevalence and influence of combined version (CV) abnormalities.
Purpose: To (1) describe the distribution of AV, FV, and CV in the largest cohort to date and (2) determine the relationship between AV, FV, and CV and PROs after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.
Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
Rheumatol Ther
January 2025
Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc., 9360 Towne Centre Dr, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
Introduction: Lorecivivint (LOR), a CDC-like kinase/dual-specificity tyrosine kinase (CLK/DYRK) inhibitor thought to modulate inflammatory and Wnt pathways, is being developed as a potential intra-articular knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. The objective of this trial was to evaluate long-term safety of LOR within an observational extension of two phase 2 trials.
Methods: This 60-month, observational extension study (NCT02951026) of a 12-month phase 2a trial (NCT02536833) and 6-month phase 2b trial (NCT03122860) was administratively closed after 36 months as data inferences became limited.
Background: The armamentarium of medical therapies to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to grow, which has expanded treatment options, particularly after first biologic failure. Currently, there are limited studies investigating the predictive value of first biologic primary non-response (PNR) on subsequent biologic success. Our objective was to determine if PNR to the first biologic for IBD is predictive of response to subsequent biologic therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCNS Drugs
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Background: Early neurological deterioration (END) is associated with a poor prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Effectively lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can improve the stability of atherosclerotic plaque and reduce post-stroke inflammation, which may be an effective means to lower the incidence of END. The objective of this study was to determine the preventive effects of evolocumab on END in patients with non-cardiogenic AIS.
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