Enhanced Transduction and Replication of RGD-Fiber Modified Adenovirus in Primary T Cells

Background: Adenoviruses are often used as vehicles to mediate gene delivery for therapeutic purposes, but their research scope in hematological cells remains limited due to a narrow choice of host cells that express the adenoviral receptor (CAR). T cells, which are attractive targets for gene therapy of numerous diseases, remain resistant to adenoviral infection because of the absence of CAR expression. Here, we demonstrate that this resistance can be overcome when murine or human T cells are transduced with an adenovirus incorporating the RGD-fiber modification (Ad-RGD). Methodology/Principal Finding: A luciferase-expressing replication-deficient Ad-RGD infected 3-fold higher number of activated primary T cells than an adenovirus lacking the RGD-fiber modification in vitro. Infection with replicationcompetent Ad-RGD virus also caused increased cell cycling, higher E1A copy number and enriched hexon antigen expression in both human and murine T cells. Transduction with oncolytic Ad-RGD also resulted in higher titers of progeny virus and enhanced the killing of T cells. In vivo, 35–45 % of splenic T cells were transduced by Ad-RGD. Conclusions: Collectively, our results prove that a fiber modified Ad-RGD successfully transduces and replicates in primary

ENCOPRETIC CHILDREN - EXPERIENCE WITH 50 CASES

Encopresis is defined as the deposition of stools in a child's underwear despite normal defecation control mechanisms

FUSED PELVIC KIDNEY DRAINED BY A SINGLE URETER

A case of fused pelvic (discoid) kidney drained by a superiorly inserted single ureter is presented. This is the twentieth case of fused pelvic kidney, and the fifth case in which drainage was carried out by a single ureter, to be reported in the English literature. The diagnosis and treatment of this condition is discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed

Do patch procedures prevent complications of the mathieu technique?

Purpose: The effects of V-incision sutured (MAVIS) and dartos patch reinforcement techniques in reducing side effects and complications of the Mathieu procedure and improving the appearance of the meatus are evaluated

Is it possible to create a slit-like meatus without incising the urethral plate?

A series of hypospadias repairs using the Mathieu and V-incision-sutured (MAVIS) technique, aiming to achieve a normal-looking, vertical, slit-like meatus in 32 patients was reviewed. A Mathieu procedure was performed in 26 patients as a primary repair and in 3 as a rescue operation. In another 3 patients who had severe proximal hypospadias with failed repair, techniques other than Mathieu's were used. Good cosmetic and functional results were achieved in all patients. There were no complications such as fistula or stricture formation. The MAVIS meatoplasty creates a natural-looking, slit-like glanular meatus in both distal and proximal hypospadias, even in complicated cases

A case of mesenteric cysts caused by abdominal tuberculosis

We report on a 10-year old boy suffering from chronic abdominal pain. Clinical examination and imaging modalities revealed that the patient had mesenteric cysts. Exploratory laparotomy revealed two mesenteric cysts of various size and multiple enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. M. tuberculosis was identified and histology of the specimens proved the existence of abdominal tuberculosis

Urodynamic findings of posterior urethral valve patients

The most frequently observed cause of obstructed bladder in children is the posterior urethral valve (PUV). In this report, we analysed the urodynamic findings of 26 patients whose valves were fulgurated 12.6 months previously (range: 2 days - 8 years, after the fulguration). The mean age of the patients at the time of the procedure was 4.5 years (range: 2 months - 13 years). Bladder capacity was decreased in 15, increased in 6, and normal in 5 patients; hypocompliance was observed in 13, hypercompliance was observed in 4, and normocompliance was observed in 9 children. Generally, hypocompliance and decreased bladder capacity was more frequent in patients younger than 4 years of age. There were 10 patients with instable detrusor contractions (IDC) and high residual urine was present in 8 patients. Eight patients developed chronic renal failure and 6 of these patients had high residual urine. All the patients who required bladder augmentation during follow-up were the ones treated after 2.5 years of age: 4 of these 5 patients had hypocompliance and low bladder capacity on urodynamic studies

Arterial carbon dioxide markedly increases during diagnostic laparoscopy in portal hypertensive children

Several factors are responsible for hypercarbia during laparoscopic procedures. This study was undertaken because we observed a sudden increase in Paco(2) in children with portal hypertension (PHT), which was unusual in healthy children undergoing laparoscopic procedures. Fifty-seven children underwent laparoscopic procedures under general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated. Arterial blood samples were obtained 5 min after intubation (T.), 15 min and 30 min after CO, pneumoperitoneum (T-15 and T-30)5 min after desufflation (Tend), and 10 min after extubation (T-ext) for blood gas analysis. The changes in Paco(2), pH, and ETCO(2)were statistically significant during the study periods in both groups (P 0.05). The PaCo2 increased remarkably in children with PHT undergoing laparoscopy, with no difference in intrahepatic or extrahepatic origin. Limiting the duration of CO, pneumoperitoneum and intraabdominal pressure and adjusting ventilatory variables to accommodate hypercarbia are of the utmost importance for such cases