Molecular characterization of M1146, an American isolate of Ljungan virus (LV) reveals the presence of a new LV genotype.

Ljungan virus (LV) is a suspected human pathogen recently isolated from bank voles in Sweden. This study describes the genetic characterization of a virus, M1146, which was isolated in 1962 from another vole species (Microtus montanus), trapped in Oregon, USA. Based on antigenic properties, M1146 was postulated previously as a putative member of the family PICORNAVIRIDAE: The near complete genomic sequence verifies that M1146 is a member of the Picornaviridae, most closely related to LVs isolated in Sweden.

Advances in the non-surgical treatment of melanoma.

Immune responses appear to play a role in the natural history of melanoma and immunotherapy has therefore been the subject of a number of studies. The results of several large randomised studies using allogeneic melanoma vaccines have shown minimal benefit and Phase I/II studies with gene transfected melanoma cells do not appear particularly encouraging. The majority of current interest now centres on development of vaccines using defined melanoma antigens recognised by T-cells and given as dendritic vaccines or injected directly as melanoma peptides or DNA.

A prognostic index for 30-day mortality after stroke.

The objective of this study was to develop a simplified scoring system to predict 30-day mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke. A retrospective cohort study was performed in a tertiary referral hospital in the Hunter Region of Australia. A prognostic index was created by assigning points to the variables in a Cox model.

The role of NF-kappa B in TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells.

Previous studies have shown that activation of NF-kappaB can inhibit apoptosis induced by a number of stimuli. It is also known that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can activate NF-kappaB through the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2, and decoy receptor TRAIL-R4. In view of these findings, we have investigated the extent to which activation of NF-kappaB may account for the variable responses of melanoma lines to apoptosis induced by TRAIL and other TNF family members.

Mortality after acute myocardial infarction is lower in metropolitan regions than in non-metropolitan regions.

Study Objectives: To compare in-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between metropolitan and non-metropolitan hospitals after adjustment for patients' severity; to examine the role of the use of effective cardiac medications in the possible mortality difference between these types of hospital.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: 47 acute public hospitals in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of New South Wales, Australia, taking part in the Acute Cardiac Care Project based on medical record review.

Immunogenicity of CD63 in a patient with melanoma.

CD63 is a member of the tetraspan family of molecules that is expressed in melanoma and which appears to be involved in regulation of motility and adhesion of melanoma cells. In the present study we have screened a cDNA library from a melanoma cell with antisera from a patient with melanoma and have shown that one of the antigens identified was CD63. The clone isolated contained a mutation in the transmembrane region, but this did not appear to be involved in immunogenicity of the molecule.

Melanoma vaccines: prospects for the treatment of melanoma.

A number of melanoma vaccines, made from whole melanoma cells or components of melanoma cells, are being tested in Phase II or III trials in patients after surgical removal of high risk primary or regional lymph node metastases, or in those with disseminated melanoma. During the progress of these trials, a number of melanoma antigens and their peptide epitopes that are recognised by human T-cells have been described. These findings and new information about antigen recognition by human T-cells have made it possible to explore the use of peptide epitopes targeted at T-cells as melanoma vaccines.

CD63 associates with transmembrane 4 superfamily members, CD9 and CD81, and with beta 1 integrins in human melanoma.

CD63 belongs to the Transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF) of membrane proteins whose functions are largely unknown. Previous results have suggested that CD63 may play an important role in the regulation of melanoma progression. To explore the role of CD63 in melanoma we have examined its association with other molecules by immunoprecipitation of CD63 from detergent induced lysates of melanoma cells.

'Nonspecific' MHC-unrestricted killer cells and their receptors.

The receptors involved in apparently nonspecific, MHC- unrestricted effector cell-target cell interaction and lysis continue to raise controversy. They bind to distinct ligands on their target cells and activate diverse cellular functions such as gene expression, lymphokine production, proliferation and/or cytolytic activity by the effector cells. Several distinct receptors may mediate MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity.