A built-in co-carcinogenic effect due to viruses involved in latent or persistent infections

A new hypothesis for some cancers, which combines the chromosomal instability theories with a co-carcinogenic effect of viruses causing latent or persistent infection, is presented. The hypothesis incorporates the multi-step model of cancer and that pre-cancerous cells reach a state of chromosomal instability. Because of chromosomal instability, the genome of these cell lines will lead to changes from generation to generation and will face a remarkable selection pressure both from lost traits, apoptosis, and from the immune system. Viruses causing latent or persistent infections have evolved many different genes capable to evade the immune system. If these viruses are harboured in the genome of pre-cancerous cells they could provide them with "superpowers" and with genes that may assist the cells to elude the immune system. The theory explains why cancer predominantly is a disease of old age. Upon aging, the immune system becomes reduced including the ability to control and suppress the viruses that cause latent or persistent infections. The risk of cancer could thereby increase as the immune functions decrease. The theory provides new insights to the genesis of cancers.     

IFN-beta modulates the response to TLR stimulation in human DC: involvement of IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) in IL-27 gene expression

Type I IFN are cytokines which play a central role in host resistance to viral or microbial infections and are important components linking innate and adaptive immunity. We and others have previously demonstrated that the production of IFN-beta by DC following bacterial infections or TLR triggering influences, in an autocrine manner, their maturation. In this study, we investigated whether IFN-beta release modulates the phenotype of the immature DC and their response to a subsequent TLR stimulation. The induction of CD86, HLA-DR, CD38 and B7H1 and the absence of CCR7 and CD83 expression upon IFN-beta treatment suggest that IFN-beta-primed DC remain at the site of infection acquiring an activated phenotype. These results prompted us to investigate the response of IFN-beta-primed DC to TLR stimulation. While IFN-beta pretreatment increases slightly the expression of maturation markers in TLR2- or TLR4-stimulated DC, it is able to modulate selectively the secretion of inflammatory and immuno-regulating cytokines. Interestingly, IL-27p28 subunit was induced by IFN-beta alone or during LPS-induced maturation of DC in a type I IFN-dependent manner through IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) activation. Taken together, our results shed light on the capacity of IFN-beta to finely tune DC response to invading pathogens.     

Robust CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to SIV using mRNA-transfected DC expressing autologous viral Ag

A potentially powerful strategy for therapeutic HIV vaccination is the use of DC transfected with mRNA encoding autologous viral Ag, as epitopes presented by transfected DC would exactly reflect those expressed by infected cells in the individual. Using human and rhesus macaque monocyte-derived DC, we show that nucleofection is a superior method for mRNA transfection, resulting in high-level protein expression and DC maturation. DC transfected with SIV gag isolated from an infected monkey stimulated robust Ag-specific recall T cell responses of similar magnitude to those induced by peptide-pulsed PBMC that were predominantly CD8+ T cell mediated. Enhanced CD4+ T cell responses were stimulated when Gag was redirected into the lysosomal pathway via the targeting signal derived from lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1). Rhesus DC transfected with lysosome-targeted gag encoding an escape mutation in an immunodominant CTL epitope stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses of almost equivalent magnitude directed towards undefined epitopes outside of the mutated region. Finally, gag-transfected DC from SIV-infected monkeys stimulated significant Ag-specific recall T cell responses in an entirely autologous system. These findings demonstrate that mRNA-transfected DC expressing SIV Ag derived from infected monkeys stimulate broad and relevant T cell responses, supporting this approach for therapeutic HIV vaccine development.     

Rethinking Medicaid Coverage and Payment Policy to Promote High Value Care: The Case of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

Context

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is the most effective reversible method to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Variability in state-level policies and the high cost of LARC could create substantial inconsistencies in Medicaid coverage, despite federal guidance aimed at enhancing broad access. This study surveyed state Medicaid payment policies and outreach activities related to LARC to explore the scope of services covered.

Impacts of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Expansion on Women of Reproductive Age: Differences by Parental Status and State Policies

Introduction

We use data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2012 to 2015 to estimate the effects of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Medicaid expansions on insurance coverage and access to care for low-income women of reproductive age (19–44).

Co-delivery of a CD4 T cell helper epitope via covalent liposome attachment with a surface-arrayed B cell target antigen fosters higher affinity antibody responses

Liposomal vaccines incorporating adjuvant and CD4 T cell helper peptides enhance antibody responses against weakly immunogenic B cell epitopes such as found in the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 gp41 subunit. While the inclusion of exogenous helper peptides in vaccine formulations facilitates stronger and more durable antibody responses, the helper peptide incorporation strategy per se may influence the overall magnitude and quality of B cell target antigen immunogenicity. Both variability in individual peptide encapsulation as well as the potential for liposome surface-associated helper peptides to misdirect the humoral response are potential parameters impacting outcome. In this study, we used MPER/liposome vaccines as a model system to examine how the mode of the potent LACK T helper peptide formulation modulates antibody responses against the MPER antigen. We directly compared liposome surface-arrayed palmitoyl LACK (pLACK) versus soluble LACK (sLACK) encapsulated in the liposomes and free in solution. Independent of LACK formulation methods, dendritic cell activation and LACK presentation were equivalent in vivo. The frequency of MPER-specific GC B cells promoted by sLACK was higher than that stimulated by pLACK formulation, a finding associated with a significantly greater frequency of LACK-specific GC B cells induced by pLACK. While there were no significant differences in the quantity of MPER-specific serological responses, the MPER-specific antibody titer trended higher with sLACK formulated vaccines at the lower dose of LACK. However, pLACK generated relatively greater MPER-specific antibody affinities than those induced by sLACK-formulated vaccines. Overall, the results suggest that liposomal surface-associated LACK enhances immunogenicity of LACK through better engagement of LACK-specific B cells. Of note, this is not detrimental to the induction of MPER-specific immune responses; rather, the elicitation of higher affinity anti-MPER antibodies benefits from augmented help delivered via covalent linkage of the pLACK CD4 T cell epitope in conjunction with MPER/liposome presentation.     

基于数据挖掘及网络药理学方法探讨肝郁脾虚型功能性消化不良用药规律及机制研究

目的基于数据挖掘及网络药理学联用的方法探索肝郁脾虚型功能性消化不良(function dyspepsia,FD)用药规律并探讨核心中药的功效网络,从组方用药规律和功效网络构建联合角度阐释"理-法-方-药"一致性的科学性。方法检索中国知网、万方数据库、维普数据库中治疗肝郁脾虚型FD的文献,将符合要求的文献进行筛选和数据提取,对方剂中性味归经、药物频次、用药剂量以及关联规则、聚类和复杂网络进行分析。对核心药物进行成分靶点筛选,与肝郁脾虚型FD的靶点映射,利用Cytoscape构建疾病-药物-成分-靶点网络,并对交集靶点利用String数据库进行蛋白-蛋白相互作用(protein-protein interactions,PPI)网络分析和DAVID数据库进行京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路分析。结果共筛选出文献207篇,处方207个,中药119味,药性以温、平、微寒为主,药味以苦、辛、甘为主,归经主要为脾、胃、肺、肝;使用频次在15以上的有30种中药,其中柴胡的使用频次最高;甘草6 g的剂量使用频次最高;关联规则表明柴胡-白芍,白芍-白术、柴胡,白芍-茯苓、白术、柴胡分别为同一个组里支持度最高的组合;聚类分析可将中药分为5类;复杂网络分析显示白术、柴胡、甘草、半夏、麦芽、茯苓和枳壳在肝郁脾虚型FD方剂中占据着核心地位。综合频数、聚类以及关联规则和复杂网络分析结果,柴胡、甘草、白术、茯苓治疗肝郁脾虚型FD的关键成分为槲皮素、山柰酚、甘草次酸等,核心靶点为蛋白激酶Bα(protein kinase Bα,AKT1)、白细胞介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)、丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(mitogen-activatedproteinkinase3,MAPK3)等,主要作用通路为磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶(phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxykinase,PI3K)-蛋白激酶B(protein kinase B,Akt)信号通路、神经活性配体-受体相互作用等。结论从组方用药规律和功效网络构建联合角度阐释了"理-法-方-药"一致性的科学性,数据挖掘分析揭示了中医药治疗肝郁脾虚型FD的核心药物以及配伍规律,同时得到治疗该病潜在的中药配伍,中药复方治疗肝郁脾虚型FD以疏肝理气、健脾益气为主,组方的核心中药柴胡、甘草、白术、茯苓可能是通过槲皮素、山柰酚、甘草次酸等成分作用于IL-6等靶点,参与PI3K-Akt信号通路、神经活性配体-受体相互作用等通路发挥治疗肝郁脾虚型FD的作用,为中医药治疗肝郁脾虚型FD提供新方法、新思路,并为下一步研究其作用机制提供理论依据。     

Introduction of a methoxymethyl side chain into p-phenylenediamine attenuates its sensitizing potency and reduces the risk of allergy induction

The strong sensitizing potencies of the most important primary intermediates of oxidative hair dyes, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and p-toluylenediamine (PTD, i.e. 2-methyl-PPD) are well established. They are considered as the key sensitizers in hair dye allergic contact dermatitis. While modification of their molecular structure is expected to alter their sensitizing properties, it may also impair their color performance. With introduction of a methoxymethyl side chain we found the primary intermediate 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (ME-PPD) with excellent hair coloring performance but significantly reduced sensitizing properties compared to PPD and PTD: In vitro, ME-PPD showed an attenuated innate immune response when analyzed for its protein reactivity and dendritic cell activation potential. In vivo, the effective concentration of ME-PPD necessary to induce an immune response 3-fold above vehicle control (EC3 value) in the local lymph node assay (LLNA) was 4.3%, indicating a moderate skin sensitizing potency compared to values of 0.1 and 0.17% for PPD and PTD, respectively. Finally, assessing the skin sensitizing potency of ME-PPD under consumer hair dye usage conditions through a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) indicated an allergy induction risk negligible compared to PPD or PTD.     

High Electrochemical Performance Silicon Thin-Film Free-Standing Electrodes Based on Buckypaper for Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries

Recently, applications for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have expanded to include electric vehicles and electric energy storage systems, extending beyond power sources for portable electronic devices. The power sources of these flexible electronic devices require the creation of thin, light, and flexible power supply devices such as flexile electrolytes/insulators, electrode materials, current collectors, and batteries that play an important role in packaging. Demand will require the progress of modern electrode materials with high capacity, rate capability, cycle stability, electrical conductivity, and mechanical flexibility for the time to come. The integration of high electrical conductivity and flexible buckypaper (oxidized Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film) and high theoretical capacity silicon materials are effective for obtaining superior high-energy-density and flexible electrode materials. Therefore, this study focuses on improving the high-capacity, capability-cycling stability of the thin-film Si buckypaper free-standing electrodes for lightweight and flexible energy-supply devices. First, buckypaper (oxidized MWCNTs) was prepared by assembling a free stand-alone electrode, and electrical conductivity tests confirmed that the buckypaper has sufficient electrical conductivity (10⁻⁴(S m⁻¹) in LIBs) to operate simultaneously with a current collector. Subsequently, silicon was deposited on the buckypaper via magnetron sputtering. Next, the thin-film Si buckypaper freestanding electrodes were heat-treated at 600 °C in a vacuum, which improved their electrochemical performance significantly. Electrochemical results demonstrated that the electrode capacity can be increased by 27/26 and 95/93 μAh in unheated and heated buckypaper current collectors, respectively. The measured discharge/charge capacities of the USi_HBP electrode were 108/106 μAh after 100 cycles, corresponding to a Coulombic efficiency of 98.1%, whereas the HSi_HBP electrode indicated a discharge/charge capacity of 193/192 μAh at the 100th cycle, corresponding to a capacity retention of 99.5%. In particular, the HSi_HBP electrode can decrease the capacity by less than 1.5% compared with the value of the first cycle after 100 cycles, demonstrating excellent electrochemical stability.