631 research outputs found
Recombinant Influenza Virus Carrying the Conserved Domain of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) G Protein Confers Protection Against RSV Without Inflammatory Disease
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important causes for viral lower respiratory tract disease in humans. There is no licensed RSV vaccine. Here, we generated recombinant influenza viruses (PR8/RSV. HA-G) carrying the chimeric constructs of hemagglutinin (HA) and central conserved-domains of the RSV G protein. PR8/RSV.HA-G virus showed lower pathogenicity without compromising immunogenicity in mice. Single intranasal inoculation of mice with PR8/RSV.HA-G induced IgG2a isotype dominant antibodies and RSV neutralizing activity. Mice with single intranasal inoculation of PR8/RSV.HA-G were protected against RSV infection as evidenced by significant reduction of lung viral loads to a detection limit upon RSV challenge. PR8/RSV.HA-G inoculation of mice did not induce pulmonary eosinophilia and inflammation upon RSV infection. These findings support a concept that recombinant influenza viruses carrying the RSV G conserved-domain can be developed as a promising RSV vaccine candidate without pulmonary disease
Undifferentiated Sarcoma of the Salivary Gland in a Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)
A subcutaneous mass was found in the lower ventral neck region of a 55-week-old male
Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Histopathologically, the mass
involved salivary glands and featured diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic neoplastic
cells with large necrotic foci. The lesion was well demarcated from the surrounding
tissue, although invasive growth to fibrous septa was occasionally observed. The
neoplastic cells were mainly arranged in irregular sheets with severe cellular atypia,
round to oval nuclei and varying amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures and
multinucleated giant cells were frequent. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the
neoplastic cells were strongly positive for vimentin and S-100 and negative for NSE,
cytokeratin, α-SMA, c-kit, factor VIII, CD34, α-1-antitrypsin, lysozyme and MSR-A. Based
on the results, the mass was diagnosed as an undifferentiated sarcoma of the salivary
gland. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a tumor in Mongolian
gerbils
Cost-effectiveness of chuna manual therapy and usual care, compared with usual care only for people with neck pain following traffic accidents: a multicenter randomized controlled trial
This is the first cost-effectiveness analysis of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) plus usual Korean traditional medicine for traffic accident victims using a randomized controlled trial. A total of 132 participants were equally allocated to the intervention group receiving 6–11 sessions of CMT plus usual Korean traditional medicine care for three weeks or usual care including acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, moxibustion, and traditional physiotherapy at three hospitals. At 12 weeks, from a healthcare perspective, the intervention group had significantly higher costs (mean (SD), 618 (318); difference, 15 to 1077 (1081) vs. −69; 95% CI, 377; p = 0.761). The intervention group dominated, with significantly higher QALYs gained at lower overall cost with a 72% chance of being cost-effective. From a societal perspective, the intervention was cost-saving for individuals who had neck pain after car accidents, although it was not cost-effective from the healthcare perspective ($40,038 per QALY gained). Findings support use of CMT as an integrated care treatment for whiplash from a societal perspective. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine cost-effectiveness in other cultural contexts
Uterine Carcinosarcoma in a 2-year-old Female Wistar Hannover GALAS Rat
Carcinosarcomas are rare tumors in humans as well as rats and most commonly occur in the
uterus. Recently, we observed a case of incidental carcinosarcoma of the uterus in a
female Wistar Hannover GALAS [BrlHan:WIST@ Jcl (GALAS)] rat at 2 years of age.
Histopathologically, the tumor was characterized by an admixture of malignant epithelial
and nonepithelial elements. The carcinomatous components represented a type of endometrial
carcinoma, consisting of glandular and solid proliferation of large-sized tumor cells.
Prominent mitoses and tumor cell invasion were observed. The sarcomatous components were
characterized by multifocal proliferation of severe atypical cells with cartilage matrix
and were diagnosed as chondrosarcoma. Transitions between carcinomatous and sarcomatous
components were observed, and many tumor cells in the solid lesion showed
immunohistochemical reactivity with both cytokeratin and vimentin. Based on these
findings, this tumor was diagnosed as a uterine carcinosarcoma. This is the first report
of uterine carcinosarcoma in Wistar Hannover GALAS [BrlHan:WIST@Jcl (GALAS)] rats
Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil from Hallabong flower
A number of essential oils derived from plants are claimed to have several medicinal functions, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammation effects. However, the chemical composition and biological activities of flower-derived components have
not been sufficiently characterized. Therefore, we investigated the composition of essential oils from Hallabong flower
[(Citrus unshiu Marcov × Citrus sinensis
Osbeck) × Citrus reticulata Blanco] and their anti-inflammatory effects. Hydro-dist
illed essential oils (HEOs) were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In total, 21 components were identified, representing more than 98 % of the oils, with sabinene (34.75 %), linalool (14.77 %), β-ocimene (11.07 %), 4-terpineol (9.63 %), L-limonene (5.88 %), and γ-terpinene (4.67 %) as the main components. In the present study, we also investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of HEOs on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 26
4.7 macrophage cells. HEOs were found to
inhibit nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and to suppress the LPS-
induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein. In addition, HEOs downregulated the production of the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1
β(IC50 values are 0.05 %, 0.02 %, and 0.01 %, respectively). On the basis of these
results, we suggest that HEOs can be consid
ered potential anti-inflammatory candidates for therapeutic use in humans
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