Chemotherapy induced transient B-cell depletion boosts antibody-forming cells expansion driven by an epidermal growth factor-based cancer vaccine

Cancer vaccines efficacy may improve inducing a rapid and persistent immune response, early at diagnosis along with standard therapies. EGF chemically conjugated to the carrier protein P64k from Neisseria meningitidis in montanide ISA 51 adjuvant is under evaluation, aiming to stimulate a B-cell response. High-dose cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin after priming enhanced the long-term frequency of EGF-specific antibody-forming cells (AFC) of IgM and IgG isotypes, but not the P64k response. Resulting combination, limitedly operational in Btk deficient xid mice, suggests that preferential B-cell lymphocyte space promoted by cyclophosphamide facilitates remaining EGF-specific AFC undergo homeostatic proliferation driven by boosting, amplifying the response.

Structural and chemical characterization of Yb2O3-ZrO2 system by HAADF-STEM and HRTEM

ZrO2:Yb3+ nanocrystalline phosphors with high concentrations of ytterbium ions were prepared using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction, high-angle annular-dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the nanocrystalline phosphors annealed at 1000 degrees C. Unit-cell distortion and changes in the crystalline structure of the monoclinic zirconia to tetragonal zirconia, and subsequently cubic zirconia, were observed with increased Yb concentration. Yb ions were randomly distributed into the lattice of the crystalline structure. No segregation of Yb2O3 phase was observed. The substitution of Zr atoms by Yb atoms on different crystalline phases was confirmed by the experimental results and theoretical simulations of HRTEM and HAADF-STEM.

Psychiatric Family History in Juvenile Psychiatric Patients

Introduction:

The presence of mental illness in any of the parents can be a stressful factor in the child and be in certain way generator of disease. AIMS describe and quantify the psychiatric family history in patients who were consecutively referred to the outpatient department of children and adolescent psychiatry,mental health community center of collado villalba, Madrid

Material and method:

Obtain data of a series of cases filing a card of the 18-year-old minor patients who in September, October, November and December, 2007 come for the first time to our mental health community center.

Results:

The total number of patients were 114. There were psychiatric family history in 36,8% (N=42), the mother was or had been in psychiatric treatment in 28% (N=31)) of the cases, the father in 15% (N=17) and the brothers in 7 % (N=8), the most frequent diagnoses in mothers it were neurosis in 21 % (N=24), toxic abuse in 3,5% (N=4) and personality disorder in 1,8% (N=2), toxic abuse was the most frequent with 8,8% (N=10) in parents, followed by neurosis diagnosed in 4,4% (N=5), the most frequent diagnoses in brothers was the emotional disorder in 4,4,% (N=5). The mean age of parents was 41,34 (SE =6,34), in mothers was 38,43 (SE=6,59).

Conclusions:

We have to consider the existence of some kind of psychiatric family history in the therapeutic plan of the patient.

Agricultural waste from the tequila industry as substrate for the production of commercially important enzymes

Approximately 1 million tons of Agave tequilana plants are processed annually by the Mexican Tequila industry generating vast amounts of agricultural waste. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of Agave tequilana waste as substrate for the production of commercially important enzymes. Two strains of Aspergillus niger (CH-A-2010 and CH-A-2016), isolated from agave fields, were found to grow and propagate in submerged cultures using Agave tequilana waste as substrate. Isolates showed simultaneous extracellular inulinase, xylanase, pectinase, and cellulase activities. Aspergillus CH-A-2010 showed the highest production of inulinase activity (1.48 U/ml), whereas Aspergillus niger CH-A-2016 produced the highest xylanase (1.52 U/ml) and endo-pectinase (2.7U/ml) activities. In both cases production of enzyme activities was significantly higher on Agave tequilana waste than that observed on lemon peel and specific polymeric carbohydrates. Enzymatic hydrolysis of raw A. tequilana stems and leaves, by enzymes secreted by the isolates yielded maximum concentrations of reducing sugars of 28.2 g/l, and 9.9 g/l respectively. In conclusion, Agave tequilana waste can be utilized as substrate for the production of important biotechnological enzymes.

The cochlear microphonic potential does not reflect the passive basilar membrane traveling wave

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the cochlear microphonic potential (CM) can contribute to its clinical usefulness, e.g. in auditory neuropathy where the CM is present, while auditory evoked neural potentials are absent. The space-time pattern of the basilar membrane traveling wave in the cochlea is thought to be responsible for generation of the CM and its pattern along the cochlea. This relationship was studied in two experiments. EXPERIMENT I:

METHODS

The threshold of the CM was measured in animals before and after drilling a hole in the wall of the inner ear vestibule. Such a hole likely reduces the magnitude of the basilar membrane traveling wave.

RESULTS

The hole did not cause a change in CM threshold.

CONCLUSION

This is evidence that the passive basilar membrane traveling wave described by von Bekesy in cadavers in response to high intensity stimulation may not be the trigger for cochlear activation and CM generation at low intensities. EXPERIMENT II:

METHODS

A saline filled tube provided fluid coupling between the cochlea of one animal and that of a second through the perforated round windows of their cochleae.

RESULTS

In response to sound stimulation of animal 1, CM (and ABR) could be recorded in animal 2, even when animal 1 was no longer living.

CONCLUSION

It is highly unlikely that a basilar membrane traveling wave could have been induced in cochlea 2 in these conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE

It is therefore suggested that at low sound intensities, the initial event activating the cochlea in general and the CM in particular is the fluid pressures (condensations/rarefactions) induced in the cochlear fluids by sound-induced stapes footplate vibrations.

1E10 anti-idiotype vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer: experience in stage IIIb/IV patients

Conventional treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has apparently reached a plateau of effectiveness in improving the survival of the patients. For that reason the search for new therapeutic strategies in this type of tumor is justified. 1E10 is an anti-idiotype murine monoclonal antibody (Ab2 MAb) specific to P3 Ab1 MAb, which reacts with NeuGc-containing gangliosides, sulfatides and with antigens expressed in some tumors, including those from the lung. We report the treatment with aluminum hydroxide-precipitated 1E10 MAb of 34 stage IIIb and 37 stage IV NSCLC patients. These patients were treated with the anti-idiotype vaccine, after received standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in a compassionate-use basis study. Patients received five bi-weekly injections of 1 mg of 1E10/Alum, other 10 doses at 28-day intervals and later the patients who maintained a good performance status continued to be immunized at this same time interval. No evidence of unexpected or serious adverse effects was reported. The median survival time of the 56 patients who entered the study with partial response or disease stabilization and with a PS 1 after the first line of chemo/radiotherapy, was 11.50 months from starting vaccination. In contrast, the median survival time calculated for patients who started vaccination with progressive disease and/or a PS2 was 6.50 months.

Interleukin-2 Mastering Regulation in Cancer and Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity and tumor immunity evolved as two distinct arenas in immunological research. However, the identification of self-antigens as the major components of malignant cells may define a central role for autoimmunity in cancer control tuned by peripheral immunoregulatory mechanisms avoiding self-aggression. Emerging evidence documents a triple antagonistic role of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in vivo promoting survival, apoptosis, and the generation of regulatory T cells. We have found that IL-2 administration reduces the clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and enhances immunoregulation in tumor-bearing mice. However, actively induced anti-IL-2 antibodies restore the response to nominal antigens in tumor-induced immunosuppressed host and induced therapeutic effect in transplantable and chemically induced tumors. It is suggested that IL-2 may contribute dynamically to the maintenance of natural immunological tolerance, preventing pathological autoimmunity, but may affect antitumor immunity. Cancer research has gained from autoimmunity understanding that tumor escape strategies include the natural mechanisms of immune tolerance and the ways to imbalance the peripheral regulatory mechanisms. Interestingly, therapeutic manipulations of immunoregulation have limited antitumor effects, although promoting collaterally infrequent autoimmune diseases. It may suggest that tumors may reinforce tolerance to protect themselves from the immune attack, a process that may involve dynamically various mechanisms including IL-2. Understanding this acquired experience from tumors may help utilize them to revert the immunopathology in autoimmune diseases.

Self-retaining T-incision for difficult tracheotomy

PROBLEM

To overcome difficulties in complicated tracheotomies through the use of a T-incision.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective.

METHODS

A T-shaped incision allows the wound edges to retract aside spontaneously, without the use of retractors. Four hundred and twelve patients were retrospectively evaluated; 203 received traditional tracheotomy incisions and 209 received a T-incision.

RESULTS

Complication rates were similar for the two groups: 3 per cent in the traditional incision group and 4 per cent in the T-incision group (difference non-significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The T-incision enables good control of bleeding and better exposure of the trachea. This incision was developed for use in difficult cases, such as patients with a short or thick neck, and complicated needle dilatation procedures. The T-incision is quick and suitable for a solo surgeon. Its cosmetic results are acceptable, and it has the same low complication rate as traditional incisions.