Low Dose Focused Ultrasound Induces Enhanced Tumor Accumulation of Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital antitumor role as part of the innate immune system. Efficacy of adoptive transfer of NK cells depends on their ability to recognize and target tumors. We investigated whether low dose focused ultrasound with microbubbles (ldbFUS) could facilitate the targeting and accumulation of NK cells in a mouse xenograft of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-expressing LS-174T implanted in NOD.Cg-Prkdc^(scid)Il2rg^(tm1Wjl)/SzJ (NSG) mice) in the presence of an anti-CEA immunocytokine (ICK), hT84.66/M5A-IL-2 (M5A-IL-2). Human NK cells were labeled with an FDA-approved ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide particle, ferumoxytol. Simultaneous with the intravenous injection of microbubbles, focused ultrasound was applied to the tumor. In vivo longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified enhanced accumulation of NK cells in the ensonified tumor, which was validated by endpoint histology. Significant accumulation of NK cells was observed up to 24 hrs at the tumor site when ensonified with 0.50 MPa peak acoustic pressure ldbFUS, whereas tumors treated with at 0.25 MPa showed no detectable NK cell accumulation. These clinically translatable results show that ldbFUS of the tumor mass can potentiate tumor homing of NK cells that can be evaluated non-invasively using MRI

People Come and Go : The Perception of Senior High School Students on the Effects of Ghosting on Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships are consequential to being an adolescent. Hence, it is inevitable that relationship dissolution is experienced during this life stage. One of the relationship dissolution strategies used in present times is ghosting. The present study aims to explore the perception of senior high school students on the effects of ghosting experiences on romantic relationships. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 17 participants selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed that after the ghosting experience, the participants\u27 previous views on romantic relationships were either solidified or changed in terms of having labels, founded on friendships, and planned carefully. Moreover, their responses indicated that after the ghosting experience, they have considered themselves ‘particular and considerate\u27 or ‘hesitant and guarded\u27 as romantic partners. Comparing the responses of the male and female participants, the findings of the study show that there is a difference in the views of romantic relationships and of themselves as romantic partners between the two sexes. Their accounts further revealed that the ghosting experience had negatively affected them both psychologically and physically. These findings serve as a great contribution to existing research on the effects of ghosting on the adolescent ghostee\u27s perception of romantic relationships, for this study is one of the first to explore such

Detection of Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV) in Litopenaeus vannamei in the Philippines

Farming of Litopenaeus vannamei in the Philippines was seen as a measure to increase shrimp production in the country. Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV) is a viral pathogen reported to be associated with Litopenaeus vannamei and other shrimp species. TSV outbreak impedes the production of Litopenaeus vannamei population and other species susceptible to the virus. Detection of TSV in L. vannamei in the Philippines calls for proper mitigation and appropriate actions for aquaculture and environmental management towards sustainable development. This study embarked on the detection of TSV using a purposive sampling method. Samples showing morphological symptoms of TSV such as redness of the carapace and pleopods and necrotic gill tissue collected from sites in Luzon and Visayas in the Philippines were processed. Viral RNA was extracted from the gills, the central area of infiltration and replication site of the virus. Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from the RNA templates and were subjected to RT-PCR under specific conditions using TSV specific primers against a positive control. Selected sites in the Philippines were proven to be positive of infection as they showed morphological symptoms and RT-PCR result in having a band at around 200 base pairs (bp). Percentage of prevalence results were obtained: Bulacan with 5 out of 15 samples (33%), Batangas with 7 out of 15 samples (47%), Bohol with 1 out of 15 samples (7%) and Cebu with 2 out of 15 samples (13%). The Batangas samples showed the highest prevalence of 47% (7 out of 15 samples) that were positive of the infection. This study reported the presence of TSV in L. vannamei in the country using morphological and molecular techniques