Correlation between Interleukin-6 and Thrombin–Antithrombin III Complex Levels in Retinal Diseases

<p><i>Purpose</i>: This study aims to evaluate and correlate the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and thrombin–antithrombin III complex (TAT) in the vitreous of patients with different vitreoretinal pathologies.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: Vitreous samples were collected from 78 patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy at a tertiary medical center. Patients were divided by the underlying vitreoretinal pathophysiology, as follows: macular hole (MH)/epiretinal membrane (ERM) (<i>n</i> = 26); rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) (<i>n</i> = 32); and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (<i>n</i> = 20). Levels of IL-6 and TAT were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared among the groups.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: A significant difference was found in the vitreal IL-6 and TAT levels between the MH/ERM group and both the PDR and RRD groups (<i>P</i> < 0.001 for all). Diabetes was associated with higher IL-6 levels in the RRD group. Different relationships between the IL-6 and TAT levels were revealed in patients with different ocular pathologies.</p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: Our results imply that variations in vitreal TAT level may be attributable not only to an inflammatory reaction or blood–retinal barrier breakdown, but also to intraocular tissue-dependent regulation of thrombin.</p

Functional Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles: Targeting and Imaging Pancreatic Tumors <i>in Vivo</i>

The development of tools for the early diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an urgent need in order to increase treatment success rate and reduce patient mortality. Here, we present a modular nanosystem platform integrating soft nanoparticles with a targeting peptide and an active imaging agent for diagnostics. Biocompatible single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCPNs) based on poly­(methacrylic acid) were prepared and functionalized with the somatostatin analogue PTR86 as the targeting moiety, since somatostatin receptors are overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. The gamma emitter ⁶⁷Ga was incorporated by chelation and allowed <i>in vivo</i> investigation of the pharmacokinetic properties of the nanoparticles using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). The resulting engineered nanosystem was tested in a xenograph mouse model of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Imaging results demonstrate that accumulation of targeted SCPNs in the tumor is higher than that observed for nontargeted nanoparticles due to improved retention in this tissue

The Condorcet jury theorem and extension of the franchise with rationally ignorant voters

Condorcet jury theorem, Rational ignorance, Expressive voting, Franchise, H11, P16,

Bundle-forming pilus retraction enhances enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infectivity

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and other pathogenic bacteria use dynamic type IV pili to adhere to the host. Here we show that the capacity of the EPEC type IV pili to retract is required for the breakdown of the host epithelial tight-junction barrier, efficient actin-pedestal formation, and translocation of effectors via the type III secretion system