Immunotherapy of Metastatic Mouse Breast Cancer by Adherent Splenocytes Pulsed With Extracts of Heated Tumor Cells and Lactobacillus Casei

Introduction: Flask-adherent Splenocytes (SACs) fulfill antigen-presenting cell requirementsof acquired immune responses. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of newimmunotherapy against breast cancer made by SACs pulsed with the extract of heated 4T1cells and Lactobacillus casei, as a probiotic.Materials and Methods: Mammary carcinoma was induced by injection of 4T1 cell line inthe flank of female Balb/c mice. The first SACs therapy was started on day 11 after tumorinduction when all animals had developed a palpable tumor. SACs therapy was done twice ata 10-day interval.Results: Mice with mammary tumors received SACs pulsed with combined heated 4T1 cellsand L. casei determined a more desirable survival curve and a slower rate of tumor developmentcompared to the other groups. At least 20% of the group receiving combined immunotherapywere alive by day 58. Those mice receiving SACs pulsed with the Lysate of heated tumorcells died by day 45.The maximum survival of other mice was up to 38 days after tumorinduction. Moreover, SAC pulsed with combined agents significantly amplified the secretionof Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and conversely reduced the secretion of Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and Interleukin 4 (IL-4) in the splenocyte population compared to splenocytes fromother groups. Combined immunotherapy increased the expression of p53 and caspase 3 genesand reduced the exertion of BCL2 more than other immunotherapy protocols.Conclusion: Immunotherapy with SACs pulsed with heated 4T1 cells and L. casei promotesbeneficial outcomes in the mouse model of breast cancer

A study on the bacterial infections of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) in the Aras reservoir

Astacus leptodactylus is an important economical fisheries resource of Aras dam reservoir, in Iran. The infection of freshwater crayfish by gram negative and gram positive bacteria is often observed in natural and cultural environments which are considered as secondary disease agents or opportunities. This study was conducted to investigate infection conditions on 70 crayfish from the Aras reservoir regarding the bacterial agents by culturing from hemolymph in aseptic condition on Blood Agar, Trypton Soya Agar (TSA) and Cytophaga Agar The study was performed by biochemical tests. In this study Aeromonas hydrophila, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Flavobacterium johnsonaewere isolated and determined. According to the results of this study which was performed for first time on Aras reservoir freshwater crayfish, the percentage of crayfish which carried bacteria in hemolymph were variable ( 20-58.5%). Also, the gram negative bacteria particularly Aeromonas hydrophyla were dominant among the bacteria isolated from studied crayfishes

Acupuncture in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind controlled pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In planning a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture, we conducted a pilot study using validated outcome measures to assess the feasibility of the protocol, and to obtain preliminary data on efficacy and tolerability of 3 different forms of acupuncture treatment as an adjunct for the treatment of chronic pain in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study employs a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA), traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) and sham acupuncture (Sham) in patients with RA. All patients received 20 sessions over a period of 10 weeks. Six acupuncture points were chosen. Primary outcome is the changes in the pain score. Secondary outcomes included the changes in the ACR core disease measures, DAS 28 score and the number of patients who achieved ACR 20 at week 10.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 80 eligible patients, 36 patients with mean age of 58 ± 10 years and disease duration of 9.3 ± 6.4 years were recruited. Twelve patients were randomized to each group. Twelve, 10 and 7 patients from the EA, TCA and Sham group respectively completed the study at 20 weeks (p < 0.03); all except one of the premature dropouts were due to lack of efficacy. At week 10, the pain score remained unchanged in all 3 groups. The number of tender joints was significantly reduced for the EA and TCA groups. Physician's global score was significantly reduced for the EA group and patient's global score was significantly reduced for the TCA group. All the outcomes except patient's global score remained unchanged in the Sham group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This pilot study has allowed a number of recommendations to be made to facilitate the design of a large-scale trial, which in turn will help to clarify the existing evidence base on acupuncture for RA.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00404443</p

Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND: Peripheral joint osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and functional limitation. Few treatments are safe and effective. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of acupuncture for treating peripheral joint osteoarthritis. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1), MEDLINE, and EMBASE (both through December 2007), and scanned reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing needle acupuncture with a sham, another active treatment, or a waiting list control group in people with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or hand. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. We calculated standardized mean differences using the differences in improvements between groups. MAIN RESULTS: Sixteen trials involving 3498 people were included. Twelve of the RCTs included only people with OA of the knee, 3 only OA of the hip, and 1 a mix of people with OA of the hip and/or knee. In comparison with a sham control, acupuncture showed statistically significant, short-term improvements in osteoarthritis pain (standardized mean difference -0.28, 95% confidence interval -0.45 to -0.11; 0.9 point greater improvement than sham on 20 point scale; absolute percent change 4.59%; relative percent change 10.32%; 9 trials; 1835 participants) and function (-0.28, -0.46 to -0.09; 2.7 point greater improvement on 68 point scale; absolute percent change 3.97%; relative percent change 8.63%); however, these pooled short-term benefits did not meet our predefined thresholds for clinical relevance (i.e. 1.3 points for pain; 3.57 points for function) and there was substantial statistical heterogeneity. Additionally, restriction to sham-controlled trials using shams judged most likely to adequately blind participants to treatment assignment (which were also the same shams judged most likely to have physiological activity), reduced heterogeneity and resulted in pooled short-term benefits of acupuncture that were smaller and non-significant. In comparison with sham acupuncture at the six-month follow-up, acupuncture showed borderline statistically significant, clinically irrelevant improvements in osteoarthritis pain (-0.10, -0.21 to 0.01; 0.4 point greater improvement than sham on 20 point scale; absolute percent change 1.81%; relative percent change 4.06%; 4 trials;1399 participants) and function (-0.11, -0.22 to 0.00; 1.2 point greater improvement than sham on 68 point scale; absolute percent change 1.79%; relative percent change 3.89%). In a secondary analysis versus a waiting list control, acupuncture was associated with statistically significant, clinically relevant short-term improvements in osteoarthritis pain (-0.96, -1.19 to -0.72; 14.5 point greater improvement than sham on 100 point scale; absolute percent change 14.5%; relative percent change 29.14%; 4 trials; 884 participants) and function (-0.89, -1.18 to -0.60; 13.0 point greater improvement than sham on 100 point scale; absolute percent change 13.0%; relative percent change 25.21%). In the head-on comparisons of acupuncture with the ‘supervised osteoarthritis education’ and the ‘physician consultation’ control groups, acupuncture was associated with clinically relevant short- and long-term improvements in pain and function. In the head on comparisons of acupuncture with ‘home exercises/advice leaflet’ and ‘supervised exercise’, acupuncture was associated with similar treatment effects as the controls. Acupuncture as an adjuvant to an exercise based physiotherapy program did not result in any greater improvements than the exercise program alone. Information on safety was reported in only 8 trials and even in these trials there was limited reporting and heterogeneous methods. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Sham-controlled trials show statistically significant benefits; however, these benefits are small, do not meet our pre-defined thresholds for clinical relevance, and are probably due at least partially to placebo effects from incomplete blinding. Waiting list-controlled trials of acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis suggest statistically significant and clinically relevant benefits, much of which may be due to expectation or placebo effects

ecology lab 4: number of leaves on the Goldenrod

<p>This experiment was done to measure the average amount of leaves present on the plant Goldenrod per quadrat. This experiment was achieved in the grassland in an area where there is high abundance of the Goldenrod plants. A quadrat was placed on the grassland and the amount of sunlight that covered the quadrat was estimated as well as the density of all the plants. The number of leaves of the Goldenrod plant was then averaged per quadrat. Every time a quadrat was placed on a different sample area it was moved one meter to the north and one meter to the east. This procedure was done 30 times.</p

third ecology lab: sweeping nets

<p>There were four parts to this experiment. My part was the sweeping nets. This was done on the grassland. The  transect tape was layed on the grassland which extended all the way to 25 meters. The tape was used as my starting point as I walked across the grassland with the net in hand sweeping forcefully from side to side. After the sweeping was finished I had to hold the net from the middle so insects can escape. The net was layed carefully on the ground and slowly my partners and I started to look inside the net and see what I caught. The number of the different types of insects that was caught was then recorded on the chart. This process was repeat ten times at different distances which was measured on meters using the transcet tape.</p

Introductory lab

<p>In this experiment the two factors were gender and whether the person was wearing an type of glasses. The response that correlated with the two factors was whether the person had a drink with them on the spot. This experiment was done by observing a bunch of groups in a cafeteria area. </p

Early detection of cerebral berry aneurysms using 3D Volume Rendering in In vivo 5

Forensic Radiology is currently an integral part of the preliminary procedure of post-mortem examination. As a time and cost-effective measure, a routine medical imaging scan is conducted prior to the autopsy. A commonly encountered cause of death in victims is a subarachnoid haemorrhage which often occurs as a result of a cerebral aneurysm. The key characteristics of cerebral aneurysms involve a weak, bulging artery in the brain that occurs randomly and with no discernible symptoms. The aneurysm may rupture abruptly resulting in brain damage or death. The three current methods of analysis of a Cerebral Aneurysm include Digital Subtraction Angiography, Computer Tomography Angiography and Magnetic Resonance Angiography – all three of which have unique limitations that can be overcome by a software called Invivo 5 by Anatomage. Invivo 5 allows for three-dimensional volume reconstruction and visualization of anatomy not easily seen on standard medical scans. It is a much more effective method to detect Cerebral Aneurysms in their earliest stage when they are smaller than 5mm in diameter and cannot be located on CT scans or MRI’s. This research experiment evaluates the difference in detection of Intercranial Aneurysms with Invivo 5 versus a traditional X-ray in a non-invasive manner. It promises a forensically useful way to verify a cause of death as a result of an aneurysm or disqualify this disease allowing for other possible reasons for death