Assessment of TWIST1 as an immunotherapeutic target of cancer

CD8+ T lymphocytes are key mediators of anti-tumour immunity, eliminating tumour cells through the recognition of tumour antigens. Increasing the number of characterised tumour antigens, especially those with highly specific tumour expression, may enable the development of more effective immunotherapy of cancers. TWIST1 is a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor (bHLB) with an important role in cell lineage determination and differentiation. It is expressed by a number of carcinomas where it functions as a pro-metastatic oncogene, but is absent or expressed at low levels in normal tissues. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether anti-TWIST1 immune responses could be generated and used to target cancer cells. Two potential HLA-A0201 restricted TWIST1-derived epitopes, SLNEAFAAL and KLAARYIDFL (referred to as SLN and KLA) were identified by in silico prediction methods and their binding to HLA-A*0201 confirmed in vitro. The peptides were assessed for their capacity to induce specific immune responses by generating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) lines from the peripheral blood of HLA-A2-positive healthy donors. SLN peptide-specific CTLs were detected in 1 out of 5 healthy donors by peptide/MHC class I pentamers and the CTL line generated showed specific cytotoxicity and the release of interferon-γ on recognition of T2 target cells pulsed with SLN. KLA peptide-specific CTLs were not detected in the four healthy HLA-A2-positive donors tested. The immunogenicity of KLA was also assessed by peptide immunisation of HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice and the in vitro stimulation of alloreactive peptide-specific CD8+ T cells from HLA-A2-negative healthy blood donors. CTLs capable of specifically killing T2 cells pulsed with KLA peptide were isolated from an alloreactive CTL bulk line using peptide/HLA-A*0201 pentamer reagents and magnetic cell sorting. The data presented here shows the existence of functional anti-TWIST1 CTL precursors within the autologous and allogeneic HLA-A*0201-restricted T cell repertoires of healthy donors, and therefore merits the further evaluation of SLN and KLA as target epitopes for the treatment of TWIST1+ tumours

Validation of the Ejike-Ijeh equations for the estimation of body fat percentage: A random cross-sectional study in adult Nigerians

The Ejike-Ijeh equations for the estimation of body fat percentage makes it possible for the body fat content of individuals and populations to be determined without the use of costly equipment. However, because the equations were derived using data from a young-adult (18-29 years old) Nigerian population, it is important to validate the equations in a wider spectrum of adults. This study is an attempt at such validation. A total of 365 adult Nigerians aged 18 to 80 years (52.9% females) participated in this random cross-sectional study. Standard internationally accepted protocols were followed for all determinations and calculations. Appropriate statistical tools were used to analyse the data generated. The mean age of the subjects was 44±16 years. The differences between the mean ages of both sexes was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Using BMI as a diagnostic, obesity was found in 12.3% of the population (17.1% in females and 7.0% in males). On the other hand, using percent fat mass (PFM), 16.4% (25.4% females and 6.4% males) were found to be obese. Measured PFM correlated positively and significantly (r=+0.635; P<0.001) with the PFM-II in the general population. The correlations were stronger in males (r=+0.736) compared to females (r=+0.563). The Ejike-Ijeh equations appear valid for use in adult Nigerians.Keywords: Body fat, obesity, prediction equations, validatio

Nutritional knowledge, fruits and vegetables consumption patterns, among undergraduates students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI)

Background: Eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day is associated with the reduction in the risk of chronic diseases. There is paucity of data on the patterns of fruits and vegetables consumption among students in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI). Objective of the study: The study aimed at assessing nutrition knowledge, fruits and vegetables consumption patterns among students of AEFUNAI. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 470 students aged (17-27 years) (234 males and 236 females) participated in this study. A semi-structured pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on height, weight, socio-demographic profile, nutritional knowledge, fruits and vegetables consumption pattern. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Statistical significance was determined at 5% level (P <0.05). Results: About 88.7% of the respondents were in the age range of 17 – 24 years. Mean age and BMI of males were 21.72 ± 2.80 years and 22.15 ±2.42 kg/m2 while those of females were 20.64 ±2.12 years and 23.2±3.5 kg/m2 respectively. About 92 % of the respondents had a good knowledge about the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables. More females than males consumed fruits always or sometimes but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). About 70.9% and 76.0% of the respondents did not have any idea about the minimum daily recommendation of fruits and vegetables respectively. Commonly consumed fruits were watermelon, apples, banana and orange while fruited pumpkin, carrot, bitter leaf and cucumber were the commonly consumed vegetables. Variables such as availability and price significantly (p<0.05) hindered the students’ fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest inadequate Fruits and Vegetables consumption among students of AEFUNAI. Cost and availability appears to be the major hindrance to adequate consumption of Fruits and Vegetables among students of AEFUNAI

Annotatie bij EHRM 16 september 2021, ECLI:CE:ECHR:2021:0916JUD002074110, nr. 20741/10 (X. t. Polen)

Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de MensEHRC 2021-0246Coherent privaatrech

Het huwelijk verdient een plaats in de rechtsorde

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De dubbele achternaam

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Voor een pleegkind met recht een toekomst : Een studie naar de (rechts)positie van (pleeg)ouders en (pleeg)kinderen in geval van langdurige uithuisplaatsing

De rechten en plichten van ouders, pleegouders en pleegkinderen zijn mede afhankelijk van de vraag of sprake is van een vrijwillige of justitiële plaatsing. De wet kent diverse voorzieningen waarin speciale aandacht wordt gegeven aan de (rechts)positie van het pleegkind en/of zijn pleegouders. Maar deze en andere wettelijke voorzieningen bieden onvoldoende bescherming aan het recht van pleegouders en pleegkinderen op eerbiediging van hun gezinsleven (art. 8 EVRM), met name in geval van een langdurig verblijf van een pleegkind in een pleeggezin. De centrale vraag in deze studie is of, en zo ja in welke mate, de wet (en de praktijk) moet worden gewijzigd om bij langdurig verblijf van een kind in een pleeggezin (al dan niet in het kader van een kinderbeschermingsmaatregel) aan het aldus ontstane gezinsleven (family life) de passende (ook door internationale verdragen verlangde) bescherming en erkenning te geven, onder gelijktijdige respectering van de rechten van de eigen ouders van het kind. De ervaringen met de aanpak van langdurige pleegzorg in de Verenigde Staten zijn bij de beschouwingen betrokken. Het onderzoek wordt afgesloten met voorstellen die moeten leiden tot een verbetering van het wettelijk kader, waarbij het accent ligt op de inrichting en hantering van kinderbeschermingsmaatregelen.LEI Universiteit LeidenFDR Het institutionele en rechtsstatelijke kader van de rechtspleging - ou

Une évaluation de la vitesse de l'accumulation superficielle de matière par la faune du sol à partir de la datation des charbons et de l'humine du sol : exemple des latosols des versants du lac Campestre, Salitre, Minas Gerais, Brésil

La datation des charbons ainsi que de l'humine, à diverses profondeurs, dans une couverture latosolique, en haut, quart supérieur et mi-pente, amène, par la similitude des variations des âges obtenus en fonction de la profondeur, à attribuer l'enfouissement des charbons et de l'humine à l'accumulation superficielle de matière par la faune. La vitesse de cet enfouissement varie dans les trois profils de 0,21 à 0,23 mm par an. (Résumé d'auteur