Selective expression of interleukin 10, interferon gamma, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in ovarian cancer biopsies.

The variable clinical response seen with most cancer immunotherapy suggests that there is a large interindividual variation in immunologic response to tumors. One of the key functional parameters of an immune response is the local production of cytokines. As a method to survey the immune status of tumor-infiltrating cells, we have investigated the constitutive expression of cytokine mRNA in biopsies from epithelial ovarian carcinomas by using a PCR-assisted mRNA amplification assay. Using a set of cytokine-specific primers for 10 different cytokines, we have found selective expression of interleukin 10 (IL-10), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon gamma mRNA in ovarian tumor tissue as compared to normal ovaries and ovarian tumor cell lines. Such differences could not be explained by the extent of T-cell infiltration, since comparing samples with the same intensity of T-cell receptor (TCR) constant region alpha-chain product from the tumor and normal biopsies demonstrated different cytokine patterns. No IL-2 gene expression was detected in the tumor biopsies. IL-2 mRNA, however, became expressed after stimulation of the tumor-derived cells via the CD3 molecule but not after growth in recombinant IL-2 alone. Using the same methodology, we also analyzed the TCR variable region beta-chain gene repertoire. No restriction or biased expression of these genes was observed

Charge-State Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Modeling of the Carbon-Pellet Plasma Interaction

Self-consistent equilibrium and nonequilibrium charge-state models are formulated for the spherical expansion of low-Z pellet vapor as an inviscid perfect gas of constant ratio of specific heats being heated volumetrically by the incident electrons of a thermonuclear plasma. The two models are found to be in agreement in the region where the ratio of the ionization length ζj to pellet radius rp is less than unity, but a single parameter, such as the magnitude of this ratio on the sonic surface, is insufficient to determine whether an equilibrium model will be valid for all regions of the ablatant for carbon pellets. Thus a nonequilibrium model is necessary to model the outer regions of the ablatant cloud even for thermonuclear plasma conditions when the cloud is very dense. Also, the effect of the ionization of the ablatant by the incident plasma electrons is found to be 10% or less for even the C+3 region in the thermonuclear regime. Finally, although the model used for the healing of the ablatant by the plasma electrons is that for a neutral carbon ablatant, it is shown that the differences in heating by the plasma electrons between this model and that for an ionized ablatant are small

Application of the Results of Carbon Pellet Modeling to The Problem of Plasma Penetration

The assumptions of the evaporation model for low-Z pellets interacting with magnetic fusion plasmas developed by Parks are tested. These assumptions are that the vapor density profile in the region adjacent to the pellet surface falls off with radial distance as r-α , where 5 \u3cα\u3c6, and that the ionization time for the transition between charge states זf (i.e., for r \u3c ~3 sonic radii). The first assumption is tested by solving a two-parameter eigenvalue problem for the evaporation cloud in the region interior to the sonic radius; the results are found to be consistent with the low-Z evaporation model. The second assumption, that זzi «זf, is tested at the sonic radius using the results from atomic physics and the low-Z evaporation model. It is found that indeed זzi «זf for plasmas with parameters close to thermonuclear conditions (e.g. CIT), but not for those of smaller Tokamaks such as TEXT. The results of pellet penetration calculations for the conditions of the carbon-pellet injection experiments into TEXT and low-density TFTR plasmas are presented that show better agreement with experiment if the shielding fraction is calculated at each step of the pellet penetration calculation, the effect of ionization is ignored, and if the effect of possible uncertainties in the background plasma parameters is included

Body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents : a systematic review of literature published 2004 to 2011

The objectiveThe authors undertook an updated systematic review of the relationship between body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents.MethodThe authors searched Medline, ISI, Cochrane, Scopus, Global Health and CINAHL databases and conducted lateral searches from reference lists for papers published from 2004 to 2011, inclusive. All empirical papers that tested associations between body mass index and dental caries in child and adolescent populations (aged 0 to 18 years) were included.ResultsDental caries is associated with both high and low body mass index.ConclusionA non-linear association between body mass index and dental caries may account for inconsistent findings in previous research. We recommend future research investigate the nature of the association between body mass index and dental caries in samples that include a full range of body mass index scores, and explore how factors such as socioeconomic status mediate the association between body mass index and dental caries.<br /

Amphiregulin cooperates with bone morphogenetic protein 15 to increase oocyte developmental competence by gap junction-mediated enhanced metabolite supply

This study assessed the participation of amphiregulin (AREG) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) during maturation of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) on cumulus cell function and their impact on subsequent embryo development. AREG treatment of COCs enhanced blastocyst formation and quality only when in the presence of BMP15. Expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 was enhanced by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) but not by AREG, which was reflected in the level of cumulus expansion. Although both FSH and AREG stimulated glycolysis, AREG treated COCs had higher glucose consumption, lactate production and ratio of lactate production to glucose uptake. Autofluorescence levels in oocytes, indicative of NAD(P)H and FAD++, were increased with combined AREG and BMP15 treatment of COCs. In contrast, these treatments did not alter autoflouresence levels when cumulus cells were removed from oocytes, even in the presence of other COCs, suggesting oocyte-cumulus gap-junctional communication (GJC) is required. FSH contributed to maintaining GJC for an extended period of time. Remarkably, BMP15 was equally effective at maintaining GJC even in the presence of AREG. Hence, AREG stimulation of COC glycolysis and BMP15 preservation of GJC may facilitate efficient transfer of metabolites from cumulus cells to the oocyte thereby enhancing oocyte developmental competence. These results have implications for improving in vitro oocyte maturation systems.Satoshi Sugimura, Lesley J Ritter, Melanie L Sutton-McDowall, David G Mottershead, Jeremy G Thompson and Robert B Gilchris

1-(2-Hydr­oxy-5-methyl­phen­yl)-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one

In the structure of the title compound, C15H14O2S, the benzene ring is nearly coplanar with the thio­phene ring. The hydroxy group substituted at C2 position is in an antiperi­planar conformation with respect to the phenyl ring. The crystal structure exhibits weak intramolecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

Fear causes tears - Perineal injuries in home birth settings. A Swedish interview study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Perineal injury is a serious complication of vaginal delivery that has a severe impact on the quality of life of healthy women. The prevalence of perineal injuries among women who give birth in hospital has increased over the last decade, while it is lower among women who give birth at home. The aim of this study was to describe the practice of midwives in home birth settings with the focus on the occurrence of perineal injuries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty midwives who had assisted home births for between one and 29 years were interviewed using an interview guide. The midwives also had experience of working in a hospital delivery ward. All the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall theme was "No rushing and tearing about", describing the midwives' focus on the natural process taking its time. The subcategories 1) preparing for the birth; 2) going along with the physiological process; 3) creating a sense of security; 4) the critical moment and 5) midwifery skills illuminate the management of labor as experienced by the midwives when assisting births at home.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Midwives who assist women who give birth at home take many things into account in order to minimize the risk of complications during birth. Protection of the woman's perineum is an act of awareness that is not limited to the actual moment of the pushing phase but starts earlier, along with the communication between the midwife and the woman.</p

Optimising experimental design for high-throughput phenotyping in mice: a case study

To further the functional annotation of the mammalian genome, the Sanger Mouse Genetics Programme aims to generate and characterise knockout mice in a high-throughput manner. Annually, approximately 200 lines of knockout mice will be characterised using a standardised battery of phenotyping tests covering key disease indications ranging from obesity to sensory acuity. From these findings secondary centres will select putative mutants of interest for more in-depth, confirmatory experiments. Optimising experimental design and data analysis is essential to maximise output using the resources with greatest efficiency, thereby attaining our biological objective of understanding the role of genes in normal development and disease. This study uses the example of the noninvasive blood pressure test to demonstrate how statistical investigation is important for generating meaningful, reliable results and assessing the design for the defined research objectives. The analysis adjusts for the multiple-testing problem by applying the false discovery rate, which controls the number of false calls within those highlighted as significant. A variance analysis finds that the variation between mice dominates this assay. These variance measures were used to examine the interplay between days, readings, and number of mice on power, the ability to detect change. If an experiment is underpowered, we cannot conclude whether failure to detect a biological difference arises from low power or lack of a distinct phenotype, hence the mice are subjected to testing without gain. Consequently, in confirmatory studies, a power analysis along with the 3Rs can provide justification to increase the number of mice used