Parameters affecting the immunogenicity of microencapsulated tetanus toxoid.

The immunogenic potential of tetanus toxoid (TT) was compared when either adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide (TT-alum) or entrapped in microparticles consisting of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLA:PGA, 55:45) derived polymers. Furthermore, the effect of administering the microparticles in an aqueous buffer or water-in-oil emulsion on the TT immunogenicity was also investigated. When mice were immunized with the different formulations, similar levels of anti-TT antibodies were observed during the primary IgG response. The choice of the carrier seemed to play an important role for both the level and maintenance of the secondary IgG response, attained as a consequence of a booster immunization with TT-alum. The strongest secondary antibody response was obtained by priming with TT-containing microparticles, resuspended in water-in-oil emulsions. As expected, incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) proved to be a more potent adjuvant than peanut oil, whereas resuspension of the microparticles in aqueous solution induced a relatively less efficient antibody response. Overall, microencapsulated TT primed the mice more effectively, since the secondary antibody response was higher and persisted longer compared with TT-alum priming. These results indicate that in addition to TT maintaining its antigenicity after microencapsulation, the microparticles also potentiate its immunogenic properties. This approach should prove very useful for designing more effective vaccines.     

A frameshift at codons 77/78 (-C): a novel beta-thalassemia mutation

We identified and characterized a novel beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) mutation due to a deletion of cytosine at codons 77/78 (-C) [CAC(His) CA- or CTG(Leu)--> -TG] found in a heterozygous state in four members of a Mexican family. The beta haplotype analysis performed on the family revealed that the frameshift at codons 77/78 (-C) mutation in this family is associated with haplotype V [- + - - - + ] and framework 2. Ten beta-thal alleles with a cytosine deletion are described at the Globin Gene Server, two of which are very near codon 77. The molecular pathology of beta-thal in the Mexican population has been shown to be heterogeneous, because some Mediterranean, Asian, private and rare alleles have been observed, a similar fact as has been observed in populations with a low frequency of beta-thal.     

Clinical relevance of NK, NKT, and dendritic cell dose in patients receiving G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood allogeneic stem cell transplantation

To analyze the relationship between the cellular composition of peripheral blood allografts and clinical outcome, we performed a prospective study in 45 adult patients who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a histocompatibility leukocyte antigen identical sibling donor for different hematological malignancies. The dose of CD34+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, type 1 and type 2 dendritic cells (DC1 and DC2), as well as regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes was analyzed. All patients were conditioned with busulphan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy2) ± VP-16 and received a short course of methotrexate and cyclosporin-A as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Acute GVHD (aGVHD) was present in 9 of 43 (21%) patients, and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) developed in 18 of 39 (46%) patients. There was a significantly higher incidence of aGVHD in patients receiving more than 6×10⁶/kg CD34+ cells. In univariate analysis, variables associated with better survival were as follows: a dose of less than 1.5×10⁷/kg NKT cells and less than 1.7×10⁶/kg DC2 for disease-free survival (DFS), and a dose of less than 3×10⁷/kg NK cells, less than 1.5×10⁷/kg NKT cells, less than 3×10⁶/kg DC1, and less than 1.7×10⁶/kg DC2 for overall survival (OS). In the Cox regression analysis, the dose of NKT cells was the only variable associated with better DFS, while the doses of NK, NKT, and CD34+ cells (less than 8×10⁶/kg) were associated with better OS. In conclusion, different circulating cell populations, other than CD34+ cells, are also of relevance in predicting the clinical outcome after allogeneic peripheral blood HSCT.     

Plasma S100β is not a useful biomarker for tumor burden in neurofibromatosis

ObjectivesNeurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), NF2, and schwannomatosis are characterized by a predisposition to develop multiple neurofibromas and schwannomas. Currently, there is no blood test to estimate tumor burden in patients with these disorders. We explored whether S100β would act as a biomarker of tumor burden in NF since S100β is a classic immunohistochemical marker of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and a small study showed S100β concentrations correlate with the volume of vestibular schwannomas.Design and methodsWe calculated whole-body tumor burden in subjects with NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis using whole-body MRI (WBMRI) and measured the concentration of S100β in plasma using ELISA. We used chi-square tests and Spearman rank correlations to test the relationship between S100β levels and whole-body tumor burden.Results127 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study (69 NF1 patients, 28 NF2 patients, and 30 schwannomatosis patients). The median age was 40 years, 43% were male, and median whole-body tumor volume was 26.9 mL. There was no relationship between the presence of internal tumors and the presence of detectable S100β in blood for the overall group or for individual diagnoses (p > 0.05 by chi-square for all comparisons). Similarly, there was no correlation between whole-body tumor volume and S100β concentration for the overall group or for individual diagnoses (p > 0.05 by Spearman for all comparisons).ConclusionsPlasma S100β is not a useful biomarker for tumor burden in the neurofibromatoses. Further work is needed to identify a reliable biomarker of tumor burden in NF patients.     

Differentiation of postnatal neural stem cells into glia and functional neurons on laminin-coated polymeric substrates

A series of polymeric biomaterials, including poly(methyl acrylate), chitosan, poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA), and a series of random copolymers containing ethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, and methyl acrylate were tested in vitro as culture substrates and compared for their effect on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) obtained from the subventricular zone of postnatal rats. Immunocytochemical assay for specific markers and scanning electron microscopy techniques were employed to determine the adhesion of the cultured NSCs to the different biomaterials and the respective neuronal differentiation. The functional properties and the membrane excitability of differentiated NSCs were investigated using a patch-clamp. The results show that the substrate's surface chemistry influences cell attachment and neuronal differentiation, probably through its influence on adsorbed laminin, and that copolymers based on PEA and PHEA in a narrow composition window are suitable substrates to promote cell attachment and differentiation of adult NSCs into functional neurons and glia.     

Cost per capita in outpatients by gender

The objective of this study is to identify the annual cost per capita by gender in first level of attention. It is a cost study in Family Physician Units in Mexico. The information corresponded to the year of 2004 and the study divided in the use profile and cost attention. USE PROFILE OF SERVICES: it was studied 1,585 clinical registries of patients, use profile defined by average and attention reasons by department, gender and age group. COST ATTENTION: considered in American dollars it included fixed unit cost (departmentalization adjusted by productivity), variable unit cost (micro cost technical), department unite cost by type attention, and department unit cost by age and gender. The life expectancy was of 73 years for men and 78 for women. Three scenes were identified. The annual cost per capita is superior among woman [US$73.24 (IC 95% $11.38 - $197.49)] than in man [$ 53.11 (IC 95% 2.51 - 207.71)]. The conclusion found that in the first level of attention the cost per capita is greater in woman than in man.