Enhancement of antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses by co-delivery of Fc-fused CXCL11

Chemokines have been known to play an important role in eliciting adaptive immune responses by, selectively attracting the innate cellular components to the site of antigen presentation. In this study, we demonstrated that all three CXCR3 ligands, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, could act as a strong, genetic adjuvant. Among them, CXCL11 increased vaccine antigen-specific CD8 T cells, including, several cytokine secretions (IFN-γ and TNF-α) to a greater degree than the other two CXCR3 ligands. Fc-fusion of CXCL11 (CXCL11-Fc) induced similar but slightly higher CD8 T cell response, which, appeared to be antigen- (ovalbumin (OVA) vs. human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7) and vaccine, type- (adenovirus vs. DNA vaccine) independent. In addition, the adjuvant effect of CXCL11-Fc was, further confirmed by suppressing tumor growth and extension of survival rates in a therapeutic tumor, model, which was correlated with enhanced antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses. Interestingly, the, enhanced antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses by co-delivery of CXCL11-Fc were associated with CD8, T cell proliferation, followed by increased total and effector memory T cell frequencies. Taken together, our findings provide a novel role of CXCL11 as a strong genetic adjuvant which might be used to, increase antigen-specific CD8 T cell immunity elicited by vaccination.     

Synthesis of Stretchable,Environmentally Stable,Conducting Polymer PEDOT Using a Modified Acid Template Random Copolymer

Although poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has good electrical conductivity and high transparency in most applications, its usage in stretchable applications is limited because of its rigidity, reduced conductivity after elongation, and poor environmental stability. This study addresses these issues by incorporating the soft and relatively hydrophobic moiety poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA). By incorporating PEGMA randomly in the rigid PSS chain, a soft and hydrophobic copolymer P(SS‐co‐PEGMA) is obtained. The conducting P(SS‐co‐PEGMA)‐based polymer‐coated PET film exhibits good resistance even after 400% elongation. In addition, PEDOT:P(SS‐co‐PEGMA) has better environmental stability than PEDOT:PSS because of the presence of the relatively hydrophobic PEGMA moiety in the chain. Moreover, the potential applicability of the synthesized flexible and stretchable electronic material as a stretchable matrix is established, which includes inorganic conductors (AgNW). When this material is stretched, it can be applied as a conductive interconnector to maintain the electrical pathway, instead of the other insulating matrices.     

Postural instability according to virtual reality program

Background: The popularity of virtual reality (VR) grew rapidly. Short guidelines with a lack of emphasis on safe use appears prior to usage. It is necessary for the user to realize how much potentially dangerous VR is.

Aims/objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of VR on balance in normal people.

Materials and methods: Mean equilibrium score (MES) of 15 adults who have normal sense of balance were obtained by using the sensory organization test (SOT). Conditions 1 and 2 were performed. Multiple VR programs were classified as three levels (Easy, Average, and Challenging) by the visual analog scale. Further SOT tests were performed during watching VR programs. MES of each test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: MES of condition 1 was significantly higher than condition 2. Although there was no statistical difference between Eye open and Easy program (p?=?.097), MES of average and Challenging programs showed significantly decreased scores compared to Eye open. In addition, MES of Average and Challenging programs were significantly decreased than that of Easy program.

Conclusions and significance: VR can cause postural imbalance to users. It is necessary to establish quantifiable and objective methods to measure imbalance caused by VR use.     

Age <40Years is an independent prognostic factor predicting inferior overall survival in patients treated with breast conservative therapy

To evaluate the effect of age at diagnosis on the treatment outcome after breast conservative therapy (BCT), retrospective analysis was done for 378 patients undergoing BCT for early breast cancer. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: 'younger' (<40years, n=108) and 'older' (≥40years, n=270). Multivariate analysis was performed on the variables including tumor characteristics, the use of systemic therapy, and age to assess risk factors for local-regional relapse-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival rates (OS). The median follow-up duration was 94months. The 8-year LRRFS, DMFS, and OS for younger and older groups were 88.1% and 96.5% (p=0.0022); 85.7% and 93.7% (p=0.0310); 89.2% and 95.9% (p=0.0205), respectively. On multivariate analysis, younger age was the only significant predictor of poor LRRFS (p=0.0022). Younger age and ER negativity showed borderline significance for DMFS (p=0.0828 and 0.0618, respectively). Younger age had trend toward inferior OS (p=0.0702). In conclusion, age younger than 40years was associated with inferior LRRFS in early breast cancer patients treated with BCT. There was also a trend for inferior DMFS and OS in younger patients. Age at diagnosis should be considered for individualized patient management.     

Clinical Outcomes after Spinal Cord Stimulation According to Pain Characteristics

ObjectiveSpinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. However, its clinical efficacy in regard to specific types of pain has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of paddle-type SCS according to the type of neuropathic pain. MethodsSeventeen patients who underwent paddle-lead SCS at our hospital were examined. Clinical outcomes were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (3 months, 1 year, and last follow-up) using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). The NPSI categorizes pain as superficial, deep, paroxysmal, evoked, or dysesthesia and assess the duration of the pain (pain time score). Changes in NPSI scores were compared with change in Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. ResultsAfter SCS, the pain time score improved by 45% (independent t-test, p=0.0002) and the deep pain score improved by 58% (independent t-test, p=0.001). Improvements in the pain time score significantly correlated with improvements in the VAS score (r=0.667, p=0.003, Spearman correlation). Additionally, the morphine milligram equivalent value was markedly lower after vs. before surgery (~49 mg, pared t-test, p=0.002). No preoperative value was associated with clinical outcome. ConclusionThe NPSI is a useful tool for evaluating the therapeutic effects of SCS. Chronic use of a paddle-type spinal cord stimulation improved the deep pain and the pain time scores.     

Identification of ICU Patients with High Nutritional Risk after Abdominal Surgery Using Modified NUTRIC Score and the Association of Energy Adequacy with 90-Day Mortality

For patients undergoing abdominal surgery, malnutrition further increases the susceptibility to infection, surgical complications, and mortality. However, there is no standard tool for identifying high-risk groups of malnutrition or exact criteria for the optimal target of nutrition supply. We aimed to identify the nutritional risk in critically ill patients using modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) scores and assessing the relationship with clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we identified the ideal target of energy intake during the acute postoperative period. A prospective observational study was conducted. mNUTRIC scores and the average calories prescribed and given were calculated. To identify the high-risk group of malnutrition, receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. The ideal target of energy adequacy and predisposing factors of 90-day mortality were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses. A total of 206 patients were analyzed. The cutoff value for mNUTRIC score predicting 90-day mortality was 5 (Area under the curve = 0.7, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.606–0.795, p < 0.001). A total of 75 patients (36.4%) were classified in the high mNUTRIC group (mNUTRIC ≥ 5) and had a significantly higher postoperative complication and longer length of surgical intensive care unit stay. High mNUTRIC scores (odds ratio = 2.548, 95% CI 1.177–5.514, p = 0.018) and energy adequacy less than 50% (odds ratio = 6.427, 95% CI 1.674–24.674, p = 0.007) were associated with 90-day mortality.     

Cerebral Cortex Changes in Basketball Players

BackgroundPlastic changes to brain structure and function have been reported in elite athletes of various sports. Interestingly, different regions of the brain were engaged according to the type of sports analyzed. Our laboratory reported no difference in total cerebellar volume of basketball players compared to that in the control group using the manual segmentation method. Further detailed analyses showed that elite basketball players had increased volume of the striatum and vermian lobules VI–VII of the cerebellum. We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of basketball players to understand their cerebral cortical plasticity through automatic analysis tools for MRI.MethodsBrain MRI data were collected from 19 male university basketball players and 20 age-, sex-, and height-matched control groups. In order to understand the changes in the cerebral cortices of basketball players, we employed automated MRI brain analysis techniques, including voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM).ResultsVBM showed increased gray and white matter volume in both precentral gyri, paracentral lobules and increased gray matter volume in the right anterior superior temporal gyrus. SBM revealed a left dominant increase in both pericentral gyri. Fractal dimensional analysis showed an increase in the area of both precentral gyri, the left subcallosal gyrus, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus. These results suggest a significant role not only for the primary motor cortex, but also for the cingulate gyrus during basketball.ConclusionPlastic changes of both precentral gyri, the pericentral area, paracentral lobules, and the right superior temporal gyrus were observed in elite basketball players. There was a strong increase of fractal complexity in both precentral gyri and a weak increase in the right posterior cingulate gyrus and left collateral gyrus. In this study, plastic regions linked to functional neuroanatomy were related to the competence required to play basketball.