Separation Methods of T Cells,Natural Killer,and Dendritic Cells from Peripheral Blood of Cancer Patients using Interleukin-2 and Functional Analysis of Natural Killer Cells after Separation

We aimed to induce three different immune cell subsets from a single blood sample from cancer patients to target different biological characters of cancer cells. In the presence of 6000 IU/ml IL-2, natural killer (NK) cells adhere to plastic. By using this ability, we could separate dendritic cells, T cells, and NK cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The cultured NK cells demonstrated higher nonspecific cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines than did the T cells. Furthermore, adherent NK cells demonstrated higher cytotoxicity than nonadherent NK cells, although there was no difference between adherent and nonadherent NK cells in natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp30, NKp44, NKp46) and NKG2D expression. With these results, we confirmed that we could induce dendritic cell, T cell, and higher cytotoxic NK cells from a single blood draw, and this methodology facilitates to the use of these cells for clinical grade conditions.     

Protein Kinase a or C Modulates the Apoptosis Induced by Lectin II Isolated from Korean Mistletoe,Viscum Album Var. Coloratum,in the Human Leukemic HL-60 Cells

Abstract

Mistletoe lectins (MLs) are increasingly used as an anticancer drug in the treatment of human tumors. The cytotoxic activity of MLs against tumor cells is due to programmed cell death (apoptosis). The up-or down-regulation of protein kinas A (PKA) or C (PKC) is known to be associated with the regulation of drug-induced apoptosis. Previously, we isolated cytotoxic MLII from the extract of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. Coloratum) and characterized its biochemical properties. The present study was designed to investigate the role of PKA and PKC in ML II-induced apoptosis. Exposure of human leukemia HL-60 cells to various doses of ML II resulted in apoptosis. However, the treatment of these cells with dibutyl-cyclic AMP (DB-cAMP), PKA activator, or 12-O-tertadecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), PKC activator, suppressed ML II-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, KT5720 and staurospoline, PKA and PKC inhibitors, respectively, reversed the suppression by DB-cAMP and TPA in the ML II-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. These results     

Improving knowledge of patient skills thanks to automatic analysis of online discussions

Objective

Automatically analyze the online discussions related to diabetes and extract information on patient skills for managing this disease.

Methods

Two collections of about 7000 and 23,000 messages from online discussion fora and 174 skills from an available taxonomy are processed with Natural Language Processing methods and semantically enriched. Skills are projected on the messages to detect those skills which are mentioned by patients. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation is performed.

Results

The method recognizes almost all the aimed skills in fora. The quality of the skills’ recognition varies with the method's parameters. Most of the selected messages are relevant to at least one of the associated skills. Manual analysis shows a substantial number of messages is dedicated to daily self-care and psychosocial skills.

Conclusion

Study of real exchanges between patients leads to a better understanding of their skills in daily self-management of diabetes.

Practice implications

Our experiments can be useful for a better understanding and better knowledge of self-management of diseases by patients. They can also refine existing patient education programs.     

Comparison of management approaches in deep-seated intracranial arteriovenous malformations: Does treatment improve outcome?

Deep-seated intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) represent a subset of AVMs characterized by variably reported outcomes regarding the risk of hemorrhage, microsurgical complications, and response to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We aimed to compare outcomes of microsurgery, SRS, endovascular therapy, and conservative follow-up in deep-seated AVMs. A prospectively maintained database of AVM patients (1990–2017) was queried to identify patients with ruptured and unruptured deep-seated AVMs (extension into thalamus, basal ganglia, or brainstem). Comparisons of hemorrhage-free survival and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] > 2) were performed between conservative management, microsurgery (±pre-procedural embolization), SRS (±pre-procedural embolization), and embolization utilizing multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses controlling for univariable factors with p < 0.05. Of 789 AVM patients, 102 had deep-seated AVMs (conservative: 34; microsurgery: 6; SRS: 54; embolization: 8). Mean follow-up time was 6.1 years and did not differ significantly between management groups (p = 0.393). Complete obliteration was achieved in 49% of SRS patients. Upon multivariable analysis controlling for baseline rupture with conservative management as a reference group, embolization was associated with an increased hazard of hemorrhage (HR = 6.2, 95%CI [1.1–40.0], p = 0.037), while microsurgery (p = 0.118) and SRS (p = 0.167) provided no significant protection from hemorrhage. Controlling for baseline mRS, microsurgery was associated with an increased risk of poor outcome (OR = 9.2[1.2–68.3], p = 0.030), while SRS (p = 0.557) and embolization (p = 0.541) did not differ significantly from conservative management. Deep AVMs harbor a high risk of hemorrhage, but the benefit from intervention Remains uncertain. SRS may be a relatively more effective approach if interventional therapy is indicated.     

The clinical characteristics of cataplectic attack in narcolepsy type 1

ObjectiveCataplexy is a pathognomonic symptom of narcolepsy type 1. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical characteristics of cataplexy by staging, and to further analyse the correlations of clinical features and cataplectic stages in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1).MethodsWe experimentally triggered patients with NT1 into cataplexy while under video-polysomnography (v-PSG) monitoring in the sleep lab. The most serious cataplectic attack from each patient was analysed. Each cataplectic episode was segmented into four stages according to the v-PSG. Correlations were analysed between cataplectic stages in pairs, and between cataplectic stages and other clinical features.ResultsWe observed 81 cataplectic episodes in 21 patients with diverse triggers, including humorous or exciting videos, tickling, recalling horrible memories and exercising. Nine patients (43%) went through complete cataplectic attacks while the others experienced partial attacks. Four cataplectic stages (ie, triggering, resisting, atonic, and recovering) were identified according to clinical and electromyograms characteristics. Resisting stage is predominant (56.4%) in cataplexy, while atonic stage is most related with the total duration of cataplexy. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ESS) has a positive correlation with the total duration of cataplexy. Both duration of cataplexy and ESS score are negatively correlated with disease course. However, medication history seems have no influence on either cataplexy duration or ESS score.ConclusionFour-stage segmentation shows the dynamic process of the cataplectic attack, which is different from the traditional classification of complete or partial cataplexy. Resisting stage is necessary for every cataplexy and might reflect the compensation mechanism, while atonic stage may be omitted in some patients. The severity of narcolepsy reduces with the extension of natural course regardless of medication history.     

云南香格里拉山地自然风景区蚤类多样性的研究

蚤类是传播多种自然疫源性疾病的重要媒介昆虫,人类在自然风景区户外活动时存在被其叮咬而感染虫媒传染病的风险。为了解云南香格里拉县主要山地自然风景区蚤类的多样性状况,2005年秋,我们选择了虎跳峡、哈巴雪山、白水台、千湖山和红山5个不同海拔高度的自然风景区为调查研究的空间范围,应用夹线法捕小型兽类并收集其体表寄生蚤类进行调查取样,对蚤类多样性、群落相似性和蚤类与宿主关系进行了测度和比较研究。结果显示：（1）共捕获蚤类633只,隶属4科19属34种,其中发现云南省1新纪录属及种（喜马狭蚤Stenoponiahimalayana）,当地新纪录蚤类10种（亚种）,显示当地山地自然风景区内蚤种丰富;（2）红山和千湖山景区蚤种丰富度较高（各18种）和物种多样性也较高（分别为2．50和2．18）,而虎跳峡景区捕获的蚤类丰富度（8种）和物种多样性指数（1．79）最低,蚤类物种丰富度和Shannon—Wienor指数均随着景区海拔的升高呈递增趋势;（3）综合分析Jaccard指数和聚类分析的结果,5个风景区被划为虎跳峡-哈巴雪山-白水台、千湖山-红山两个类型,相对植被和水湿条件而言,人为干扰或是导致这一结果更重要的原因;（4）5个自然风景区蚤类群落与宿主群落丰富度的Spearman秩相关系数为0．24,Shannon—Wiener指数的Spearman秩相关系数为0．60,显示5个景区的蚤类多样性与宿主多样性无相关。     

Differences in the biomechanical behaviors of natural teeth and dental implants

ObjectiveThe lack of a PDL, which acts as an energy absorber, is a contributor to implants’ early failure; however, these discrepancies are not well understood because of limited in vivo research. This study investigated the discrepancy in biomechanical behaviors between natural teeth and dental implants by detecting micro-movements in vivo.MethodsWe designed a device that could measure precisely mechanical behaviors such as creep, stress relaxation, and hysteresis by using load–control displacement on teeth and implants. We also compared energy dissipation between natural teeth and dental implants by subtracting the area of the hysteresis loop of natural teeth from that of dental implants.ResultsBiphasic curves with an initial phase of rapid response and a subsequent phase of slow response were confirmed in creep and stress relaxation curves for the load–time relationship in natural teeth. By contrast, the behavior of creep or stress relaxation was less prominent when the dental implants were tested. We observed that the periodontal ligament under an axial intrusive load of 300 g in a loading rate 3 g/s could dissipate the energy of 7.35 ± 1.18 × 10^?2 mJ, approximately 50 times that of the dental implants (1.47 ± 1.22 × 10^?3) with statistically significant (p < 0.05).SignificanceWe confirmed natural teeth could achieve greater energy dissipation compared to dental implants, which owe to that natural teeth exhibited fluid and viscoelastic properties.     

An observational study assessing the pathways to care among treatment seeking users of natural opiates

Abstract

Background: Natural opiate users constitute a large proportion of opioid dependent individuals in India, and enjoy socio-cultural sanction in certain parts of the country. However, no study has assessed the pathways to care among this population in India.

Objective: To assess the pathways to care among treatment-seeking natural opiate dependent individuals.

Method: This cross sectional, explorative study was conducted at a tertiary care drug treatment centre located in North India. A total of 125 male participants aged >18?years, seeking treatment for natural opiate dependence from our outpatient clinic were included. A semi-structured proforma and WHO mental health encounter form was applied to assess socio-demographic, treatment details and pathways to care.

Results: The mean age was 46.17 (±11.98) years. Poppy husk (phukki/doda/posht) was the most common primary natural opiate used (84%). First point of treatment contact was addiction psychiatrist (n?=?90; 72%) in majority. First time treatment seeking was either by self-referral (60.8%) or referral by relatives and friends (24.8%) with mean time lag of 18.63?years after the onset.

Conclusion: Natural opiates dependent patients seek treatment late in the course of their illness, often directly from a tertiary addiction treatment centre. Barriers to seek treatment needs to be addressed.