Defining the Range of Cellular Components, Including Internal Antigens, That Can Serve as Targets of Graft Rejection

The mechanisms underlying rejection of grafted neural tissue are still being defined. Mechanisms relevant to genetically engineered cells are of current interest. To date, attention has focused on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens as targets of graft rejection. Yet even when there is no MHC disparity, as when the patient's own cells are genetically altered, there is still a potential for graft rejection, directed against the novel antigens. We illustrate this in a rat model

Monoclonal antibodies in neuro-oncology: Getting past the blood-brain barrier

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used with increasing success against many tumors, but for brain tumors the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a special concern. The BBB prevents antibody entry to the normal brain; however, its role in brain tumor therapy is more complex. The BBB is closest to normal at micro-tumor sites; its properties and importance change as the tumor grows. In this review, evolving insight into the role of the BBB is balanced against other factors that affect efficacy or interpretation when mAbs are used against brain tumor targets. As specific examples, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and blood-borne metastases from breast cancer are discussed in the context of treatment, respectively, with the mAbs bevacizumab, rituximab and trastuzumab, each of which is already widely used against tumors outside the brain. It is suggested that success against brain tumors will require getting past the BBB in two senses: physically, to better attack brain tumor targets, and conceptually, to give equal attention to problems that are shared with other tumor sites

Expression of Class I and II Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Antigens in the Developing CNS

The clinical potential of neural transplantation depends upon the feasibility of allogenenic or xenogeneic transplants, particularly of fetal tissue. This, in turn, is influenced by donor cell expression of MHC antigens. MHC expression in the developing CNS in situ had not been defined. Here, a panel of antibodies was used to define MHC expression in the developing rat embryo

Implementing the information prescription protocol in a family medicine practice: a case study.

QUESTION: Can an information prescription protocol be successfully integrated into a family medicine practice seeking to enhance patient education and self-management? SETTING: Milton Family Practice, an outpatient clinic and resident teaching site of the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care, is located in a semirural area fifteen miles from main campus. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to increase physicians\u27 knowledge and use of information prescriptions, sustain integration of information prescription use, and increase physicians\u27 ability to provide patient education information. METHODS: Methods used were promotion of the National Library of Medicine\u27s Information Rx, physician instruction, installation of patient and provider workstations, and a collaborative approach to practice integration. MAIN RESULTS: A post-intervention survey showed increased physician knowledge and use of the Information Rx protocol. Support procedures were integrated at the practice. CONCLUSIONS: Sustainable integration of Information Rx in a primary care clinic requires not only promotion and education, but also attention to clinic organization and procedures

Common Representation of Information Flows for Dynamic Coalitions

We propose a formal foundation for reasoning about access control policies within a Dynamic Coalition, defining an abstraction over existing access control models and providing mechanisms for translation of those models into information-flow domain. The abstracted information-flow domain model, called a Common Representation, can then be used for defining a way to control the evolution of Dynamic Coalitions with respect to information flow

Extreme Makeover: Bending the Rules to Reduce Risk Rewriting Complex Systems

Abstract. We describe our experience using XP to reimplement sophisticated, high-performance imaging software in a research environment. We focus espe-cially on practices we used to derive value from the existing software, notably reimplementation by ransacking and conversion as learning. Our experience suggests that some of the classic 12 practices which define XP should be ad-justed when there is a existing, well-structured system to serve as a guide.