Regresión tumoral espontánea. A propósito de dos casos

Two cases of spontaneous tumor regression (STR) occurring in a patient with non Hodgkin lymphoma and in another patient with squamous carcinoma of the lung are presented. Both cases fulfill the criteria of STR defined by Everson and Cole. Recent results obtained in basic and clinical studies have indicated that immunological mechanisms could play an important role in STR. The mediator effects more frequently referred are: 1) generation of antineoplastic cytotoxic cells; 2) production of immunoregulatory cytokines by lymphocytes and monocytes, and 3) possible cross reaction between tumor and bacterial antigens. These mechanisms of action are discussed in relation to the presented case

(Un)affirming assimilation: depictions of dis/ability in health textbooks

Purpose – In light of the systemic and pervasive nature of ableism and how ableist ideology structures – or limits – educational opportunities, this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing conversation within the field of multicultural education regarding how to meaningfully include dis/ability in K-12 curricula. Design/methodology/approach – This paper explores how elementary and middle school health textbooks from two prominent publishers in the USA portray dis/ability through quantitative and qualitative content analysismethods of 1,468 images across texts. Findings – Findings indicate that the majority of the textbook portrayals of dis/ability tacitly forward assimilationist ideals. Specifically, the textbooks assume and speak to a normatively-abled reader, pointing out those with dis/abilities as different from the reader. Additionally, mainstream or normative markers are provided as evidence of success and those with dis/abilities who have been successful as such are positioned as overcoming their limitations. Practical implications – Such portrayals stifle the possibility of social transformation by reinforcing and privileging dominant, ableist views. Therefore, teachers are recommended to take steps that might counter such messages in curricular materials and teacher educators are called on to support these efforts. Originality/value – This paper extends the tradition of curricular analysis as one of the first studies to examine the portrayals of dis/ability in US health textbooks and offer practical implications for educators

Immunomodulation induced by synthetic peptides derived from Staphylococcus aureus protein A

Peptides from 10 to 22 amino acids containing sequences encompassed by Staphylococcus aureus protein A were synthesized. Some of these peptides, when present in cultures of lymphomononuclear cells from healthy donors or from cancer patients (melanoma, breast carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma) promoted: (i) changes in the phenotype of the lymphomononuclear population, (ii) stimulation of monocytes (release of IL-1 and TNF-alpha), and (iii) an increase in cytotoxicity against K562, Daudi and HT-29 cells. Isolated monocytes responded also to those peptides with a release of IL-1 and TNF alpha and an increase of cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells. It was found that the active peptides had the following structural pattern: a length of at least 15 amino-acid residues with a proline at position 6, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glycine, alanine or lysine at position 2, and glutamic or aspartic acid at position 11. Replacement of Pro at position 6 with any other residue turned the peptide inactive. Replacement of residues at positions 2 and 11 with amino-acid residues other than those required for activity resulted in compounds with a marked decrease in the immunomodulating properties described, or lacking these properties altogether

Depresión del sistema mononuclear-fagocítico provocada por altas dosis de morfínico

We evaluated in human monocytes the effect of high doses of alfentanyl on the expression of vimentin filaments, the phagocytic activity and the membrane display of HLA-DR molecules in the subjects undergoing surgery. The study was performed on 30 patients, ASAI-II. The patients received 100 mcg/kg i.v. of Alfentanil and the maintenance of anaesthesia was made with Alfentanil (2-3 mcg/kg/min.). The patients were randomized in two groups. The patients were ventilated with N2O:O2 (1:1) (Group I) or air: O2 (1:1) (Group II). After surgery, all patients of the Group II received Naloxone (0.2-0.4 mg). Central venous blood samples were obtained before induction, one and two hours after induction of anaesthesia and at the end of surgery. Separation of monocytes was performed according to Boyum technique. CD35 and HLA-DR molecules and vimentin filaments were studied by indirect immunofluorescence method using monoclonal antibodies. Percentage of positive cells were read with a cytofluorometer. The phagocytic function of monocytes was determined by ingestion of latex particles. Cortisol and ACTH plasma levels were determined by RIA. High doses of Alfentanyl depress phagocytic function and membrane display of CD35 and HLA-DR molecules in monocyte and induce marked changes in the organization of vimentin filaments in these cells in patients undergoing surgery. This monocytic depression was more marked in the patients ventilated with N2O. In our results there was uninhibition of ACTH and cortisol plasma levels responses to surgical stress by Alfentanil administration. Since the effects of Alfentanil were reversed by Naloxone, an opioid receptor mechanism seems to mediate these event

Co-expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and arginases in different human monocyte subsets. Apoptosis regulated by endogenous NO

Human monocyte subsets, isolated from cultures of mononuclear cells, or freshly obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis, Graves' disease or pemphigus vulgaris, differed in phenotype, apoptotic features, mRNA levels of arginase II (A-II) and the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Liver-type arginase I mRNA was present in all subsets. Apoptosis was followed by the expression of T cell intracellular antigen (TIA) and the simultaneous detection of DNA stainability by propidium iodine and annexin V binding. Apoptosis was practically absent both in activated CD14(++)CD33(++)DR(++)CD25(++)CD69(++)CD71(++/+) CD16(-) cells, expressing A-II mRNA and having arginase activity, but not iNOS mRNA, and in not fully mature large CD14(++)CD16(+)CD23(+)DR(++) monocytes, expressing simultaneously both mRNAs and having both enzyme activities. However, differentiated small CD14(+/++)CD16(+)CD69(+)CD25(+/-)CD71(++)CD23(+) DR(++) monocytes, expressing high levels of iNOS mRNA, exhibited apoptotic signs. Amounts of NO synthesised by monocytes co-expressing iNOS and arginase changed with the addition of arginine or an iNOS inhibitor; in that case a correlation of NO production and apoptotic features was observed. Data suggest a regulatory role for endogenous NO in apoptosis of stimulated and differentiated monocytes, and also that iNOS and A-II, when simultaneously present, could control the production of NO as a consequence of their competition for arginine

Multiple cycles of dose-intensive chemotherapy with repeated stem cell support as induction treatment in metastatic breast cancer: a feasibility study

The purpose of this trial was to study feasibility and tolerance of a dose-intensive multicyclic alternating induction chemotherapy with repeated stem cell support in a series of 43 metastatic breast cancer patients. Anthracycline-naive patients (n = 21) received cyclophosphamide 2.5 g/m2 plus doxorubicin 80 mg/m2 alternating every 14 days with paclitaxel 200-350 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2. Patients who had previously received anthracyclines (n = 22) received cisplatin 120 mg/m2 plus etoposide 600 mg/m2 alternating with paclitaxel 200-350 mg/m2 plus ifosfamide 8 g/m2. Peripheral blood stem cells were infused after every course except the first, with a median CD34+ dose of 2.1 ´ 106/kg per cycle. Positive selection of CD34+ cells was performed in good mobilizers. The median number of cycles administered was six (4-8), and the time interval between them was 17 days. Median summation dose intensities (SDI) actually administered for the CA-TP and PE-TI protocol were 4.95 and 4.69, respectively (87% of scheduled SDI). There were 15 complete (35%) and 21 partial responses (49%), for an overall response rate of 84% (95% CI, 73%-95%). Infection or neutropenic fever occurred in 50% of the cycles. There was one treatment-related death. After a median follow-up of 26 months, the median event-free-survival was 12 months (95% CI: 10-14) and overall survival was 31 months. These high dose-intensity induction treatments seem to be feasible with sequential stem cell support

A MIQE-Compliant Real-Time PCR Assay for Aspergillus Detection

PMCID: PMC3393739This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Naive and memory CD4+ T-cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with aseptic meningitis following measles-mumps-rubella vaccination and enteroviral meningitis

We investigated the distribution of memory (CD45RO+) and naive (CD45RA+CD62L+) CD4+ T-cells as well as CD8+ T-cells and total T-cells in the CSF of children with aseptic meningitis following measles-mumps-rubella (MMW) vaccination and those with enteroviral meningitis. Flow cytometric analysis of CSF cells was performed in 12 children with MMR vaccine-associated meningitis and 11 children with enteroviral meningitis. Percentages of total T-cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and monocytes in CSF of patients from the two groups were not significantly different. The majority of CD4+ T-cells in the CSF of both patient groups were of memory phenotype. Percentages of CSF naive CD4+ T-cells were increased in children with aseptic meningitis following MMR vaccination. Further studies focused on the more detailed immunophenotyping of CSF cells are needed to fully establish the usefulness of flow cytometry in the diagnostic workup of inflammatory CNS diseases in children

(Un)affirming assimilation: depictions of dis/ability in health textbooks

© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: In light of the systemic and pervasive nature of ableism and how ableist ideology structures – or limits – educational opportunities, this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing conversation within the field of multicultural education regarding how to meaningfully include dis/ability in K-12 curricula. Design/methodology/approach: This paper explores how elementary and middle school health textbooks from two prominent publishers in the USA portray dis/ability through quantitative and qualitative content analysis methods of 1,468 images across texts. Findings: Findings indicate that the majority of the textbook portrayals of dis/ability tacitly forward assimilationist ideals. Specifically, the textbooks assume and speak to a normatively-abled reader, pointing out those with dis/abilities as different from the reader. Additionally, mainstream or normative markers are provided as evidence of success and those with dis/abilities who have been successful as such are positioned as overcoming their limitations. Practical implications: Such portrayals stifle the possibility of social transformation by reinforcing and privileging dominant, ableist views. Therefore, teachers are recommended to take steps that might counter such messages in curricular materials and teacher educators are called on to support these efforts. Originality/value: This paper extends the tradition of curricular analysis as one of the first studies to examine the portrayals of dis/ability in US health textbooks and offer practical implications for educators