Corticosteroid treatment exacerbates nephrotic syndrome in a zebrafish model of magi2a knockout

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Evaluation of different chemical adjuvants on an avian influenza H6 DNA vaccine in chickens

This study assessed the ability of three adjuvants (aluminium hydroxide, Essai (microparticle) and Phema (nanoparticle)) to enhance the immune response of chickens to an H6N2 avian influenza DNA vaccine. No haemagglutination inhibition antibody was detected following two intramuscular immunizations with the adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted pCAG-HAk vaccine, which has previously been shown to induce moderate H6 haemagglutinin antibody response in SPF chickens. Following virus challenge, neither the vaccinated group without adjuvant nor the Essai-adjuvanted group showed a statistically significant reduction in virus shedding in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs compared with the naive control group. However, the aluminium hydroxide and Phema-adjuvanted groups significantly reduced the frequency of virus shedding in oropharyngeal swabs, indicating that these adjuvants appeared to further enhance the vaccine potency. Aluminium hydroxide holds promise as an adjuvant for enhancing DNA-induced immune response in chickens owing to its low price and safety record.     

Review of diagnostic,prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive cutaneous malignancy with rapidly rising incidence. Diagnosis of controversial melanocytic lesions, correct prognostication of patients, selection of appropriate adjuvant and systemic therapies, and prediction of response to a given therapy remain very real challenges. Despite these challenges, multiple high throughput, nucleic-acid based biomarkers have been developed that can be assayed from histologic tissue specimens. FISH, CGH, Decision-Dx, and other multi-marker assays have been combined to improve overall predictability. This review discusses some of the most promising nucleic acid based assays that can be obtained from tissue specimens to assist with diagnosis, prognostication, and prediction of treatment response.     

An analysis of college students' attitudes and beliefs concerning body disposal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the body disposal preferences of college students at The Pennsylvania State University, and to identify factors related to their choice in order to draw implications to strengthen death education programming. In this study, 184 undergraduate students were asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding body disposal preferences and related concerns. A variety of independent variables were identified.

Significant interrelationships were found between the independent variables; primary reason for choice of body disposal, religious affiliations, perceived reasonable costs, desire to utilize the services of a funeral director, and the dependent variable, choice of body disposal. These data also indicate that college age students prefer non-traditional burial modalities. The educational implication of these findings are discussed.