Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the postate (STREAP): a potential target of immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

Immunotherapy has been proposed as a complementary or alternative therapy for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PC), one of the leading causes of tumor-related mortality in men. From different approaches that have been tested in recent years, it is now becoming more evident that the choice of the appropriate antigen to target is crucial for the best outcome. Generally tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) undergo peripheral tolerance during tumor progression, which dampens the efficacy of vaccination protocols. It can be hypothesized that the kinetic and depth of immune tolerance varies depending on the timing and relative expression of the TAA. These differences may represent a key for successful immunotherapy approaches even in patients with advanced disease. Aim of my thesis was to investigate the dynamics of CD8+ T cells specific for normal tissue antigens over-expressed during the spontaneous tumor development and progression in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, a primary model of human PC. We have found that Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA) and Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP), two well known PC-associated antigens, behave differently in term of immunological response when compared with the transgenic Tag IV antigen, which drives oncogenesis in TRAMP mice. While a dendritic cells (DC)-based immunization was able to elicit measurable immune responses for all three antigens in young males affected by mouse prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN), aged mice affected by PC progressively lost immunity against Tag IV and in part for PSCA, but not against STEAP. The findings correlated with the amount of antigens expressed in the prostate, therefore suggesting that tolerance against this type of TAA follows the same rule of that induced for tissue-associated antigens in peripheral tissues: the more the antigen is expressed the more tolerance is profound. Finally, a combined therapy of allotransplantation and DC-STEAP vaccination effectively reduced tumor burden in TRAMP mice, underlying how this therapeutic strategy when targeted to a reliable antigen is able to restore cancer immunosurveillance

Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the postate (STREAP): a potential target of immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

Immunotherapy has been proposed as a complementary or alternative therapy for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PC), one of the leading causes of tumor-related mortality in men. From different approaches that have been tested in recent years, it is now becoming more evident that the choice of the appropriate antigen to target is crucial for the best outcome. Generally tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) undergo peripheral tolerance during tumor progression, which dampens the efficacy of vaccination protocols. It can be hypothesized that the kinetic and depth of immune tolerance varies depending on the timing and relative expression of the TAA. These differences may represent a key for successful immunotherapy approaches even in patients with advanced disease. Aim of my thesis was to investigate the dynamics of CD8+ T cells specific for normal tissue antigens over-expressed during the spontaneous tumor development and progression in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, a primary model of human PC. We have found that Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA) and Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP), two well known PC-associated antigens, behave differently in term of immunological response when compared with the transgenic Tag IV antigen, which drives oncogenesis in TRAMP mice. While a dendritic cells (DC)-based immunization was able to elicit measurable immune responses for all three antigens in young males affected by mouse prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN), aged mice affected by PC progressively lost immunity against Tag IV and in part for PSCA, but not against STEAP. The findings correlated with the amount of antigens expressed in the prostate, therefore suggesting that tolerance against this type of TAA follows the same rule of that induced for tissue-associated antigens in peripheral tissues: the more the antigen is expressed the more tolerance is profound. Finally, a combined therapy of allotransplantation and DC-STEAP vaccination effectively reduced tumor burden in TRAMP mice, underlying how this therapeutic strategy when targeted to a reliable antigen is able to restore cancer immunosurveillance

Key Lessons from Mega Disasters: The Haiyan/Yolanda Experience

There is the continuing quest for lessons to enable man to recover and rehabilitate from the devastations from mega disasters. Anchored on the systems theory and using a descriptive method, this case study focused on the key lessons learned by the Mayor of Tanauan, Leyte as he led his town to rise from the destruction of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Investigating the interview through narrative analysis, he categorized the work into two major phases. 1) Relief Phase: Emergency provision of food and potable water; medical care; temporary shelters; assure security and immediate clearing operations, and; restoration of power supply, and;. 2) Rehabilitation and Recovery Phase: Building Back Better damages on permanent shelter, public infrastructure and livelihood. The 4 key lessons were: 1) Proactiveness; 2) Priority Setting; 3) Community-driven and Collaboration, and; 4) Personal  Leadership. These lessons ought to be disseminated as these may save properties and live

Stress: Its Causes, Effects, And The Coping Mechanisms Among Bachelor Of Science In Social Work Students In A Philippine University

The causes, levels of stress, and coping mechanisms vary. The study of Social Work course is basically a rigorous one as it is designed to prepare students for the actual demands in the world of work, specifically on social issues and problems and on community organizing. This study sought to determine the causes of stress, the effects of stress, and the stress coping mechanisms of Bachelor of Science in Social Work students in the Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City. It tested some assumptions using the descriptive survey method with 54 respondents. Quizzes/examinations, school requirements/projects and recitations were the most common stressors. Sleepless nights was the common effects of stress. There was disparity on the causes and effects of stress between the male and female respondents. Praying to God was the common stress coping mechanism. No disparity was observed between the male and female coping mechanisms

Awareness, Knowledge, Proficiency, Training and Expertise of Public Elementary School Teachers in Tacloban City on Education for Sustainable Development

Education for Sustainable Development is a thrust pursued by the United Nations to ensure that future generations are protected from key issues that tend to heighten the deterioration of the present society and environment. Using the descriptive survey method this study focused on the awareness, knowledge, proficiency, training and expertise of 112 teachers in the Philippine public elementary schools in Tacloban City. Collected data were processed through SPSS. Fifty-two (52) or 46.42% respondents were not aware of ESD. Some 31 or 27.67% were aware of ESD. The overall mean on the knowledge of teachers stood at 3.68 interpreted as having More than Enough Knowledge. On Proficiency the overall mean stood at 3.57 interpreted as a Beginner. On Training and Expertise the overall mean stood at 3.45 interpreted as Novice

Perspectives of Implementers on the Student Teacher Practicum Program of a Philippine University: Inputs for Program Improvement

This study sought to determine the perspectives of the 316 program implementers of the Student Teacher Practicum Program in the Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City. Using the descriptive survey method the inquiry focused on the importance, objectives, relevance, and competencies of the program. The Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to test the level of significance between the perspectives of “in-campus” and “off-campus” respondents. The implementers construed the program as Very Important, Very Effective in attaining its objectives, Very Relevant, and the competencies Very Useful. The null hypotheses were not rejected on the aspects of importance, attaining the objectives and competencies while on the aspect of relevance it was rejected

Causes, Effects of Stress and the Coping Mechanism of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Students in a Philippine University

The causes and levels of stress vary. The study of Information Technology is basically a rigorous one as it is designed to prepare students for the actual demands in the world of work. This study sought to determine the causes of stress, the effects of stress, and the stress coping mechanisms of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology students in the Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City. It tested some assumptions using the descriptive survey method with 51 respondents. Thesis writing/research and school requirements/projects were the most common causes of stress. Sleepless nights and irritable/moody feeling were the common effects of stress. There was disparity on the causes and effects of stress between the male and female respondents. The use of computer and praying to God were the common stress coping mechanisms. There was an observed disparity between the male and female responses

Gestion de traces d'exécution pour le systèmes embarqués : contenu et stockage

Ce rapport porte sur les systèmes de traces et catégorise leurs motivations et les fonctionnalités fournies. Il a pour objectif d'expliciter le lien entre objectifs de traçage et les types (contenu, format et stockage) de traces d'exécution manipulées. Il identifie les besoins en termes d'exploitation de traces dans le domaine des systèmes embarqués et présente notre proposition de solution dans le cadre du projet SoC-TRACE

Medicinal pastures. Seed germinability acessment of Bellis perennis and Bellis sylvestris accessions from Alentejo and Spanish Extremadura

Com o objectivo de contribuir para o conhecimento da biologia reprodutiva da margarida (Bellis perennis e Bellis sylvestris), fez-se um estudo preliminar da capacidade germinativa de acessions silvestres destes taxa colhidos no Alentejo e Extremadura espanhola. O tratamento para quebra de dormência das sementes foi a pré-refrigeração a 5ºC durante 7 dias e um control. A temperatura de incubação foi de 20 ºC e testou-se também o efeito da duração do fotoperiodo na germinação das sementes (0 horas-escuro e 12 h-luz). As sementes testadas foram colhidas em prados naturais durante o ano de 2009; uma acession de B. perennis foi colhida simultaneamente em 2009 e 2010. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com fotoperíodo de 12 h de luz e sem pré-tratamento de quebra de dormência; no entanto, na modalidade de 0 h de fotoperíodo (escuro), houve germinação de um maior número de acessions. O melhor resultado (48,5 %) foi obtido para a acession de B. perennis colhida em Marvão. Com estes resultados preliminares, conclui-se que existe uma enorme biodiversidade relativa à biologia reprodutiva das acessions estudadas. A germinação obtida para as espécies estudadas foi muito baixa para fins comerciais. Estudos futuros devem ser efectuados com outras acessions regionais, outros tratamentos de quebra de dormência e condições de acondicionamento da sement

Seismic and Energetic Interventions on a Typical South Italy Residential Building: Cost Analysis and Tax Detraction

Italian buildings are mainly represented by unreinforced masonry constructions, which were mostly built before 1970, often without respecting seismic design criteria. The main objective of Italian designers is, therefore, to retrofit these buildings in order to improve their safety under earthquake, as well as to preserve the memory of the ancient building art. In addition, the assessment of the building energetic efficiency is nowadays a very pressing need for designers and practitioners. Energetic efficiency represents the capacity to optimize the consumption of energy resources in order to reach prefixed requirements for the environment protection. This paper shows both seismic and energetic retrofitting interventions on a residential unreinforced masonry building typical of the constructive practice in the South Italy. Initially, the building characterization under geometrical and structural viewpoints is done. Subsequently, the seismic vulnerability verification is performed with unsatisfactory results, so requiring upgrading or retrofitting interventions. Moreover, with the aim to increase living comfort and energy efficiency, energetic upgrading interventions, aimed at decreasing the building transmittance, are proposed. Seismic and energetic interventions are then computed from the economic point of view in order to evaluate the financial contributions foreseen by the Italian 2018 Balance Law through the Sismabonus and Ecobonus tools, respectively. Finally, the study proposes a global performance index able to take into account contemporary the seismic, energetic and economic benefits deriving from retrofitting interventions applied on the inspected residential building