Prophylactic therapy with valgancyclovir in high-risk (cytomegalovirus D+/R-) liver transplant recipients: a single-center experience

A retrospective study was performed in liver transplant patients with high risk to develop cytomegalovirus infection (CMV D+/R-) who were treated with valgancyclovir for 3 months as prophylactic therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of prophylactic therapy with valgancyclovir. Weekly CMV antigenemia was routinely assessed during the first 3 months posttransplantation, twice a month to month 6, and monthly until the end of the first year, as well as when clinically indicated. The follow-up period was 1 year. From January 2003 to February 2007, 199 liver transplantations were performed at our institution, including 23 (11%) high-risk patients for CMV infection. Median age was 47 +/- 11.6 years. Nineteen patients (70.4%) were men. Five subjects (21.7%) developed CMV infections. Three patients with positive CMV antigenemia at 3, 4, or 6 months posttransplantation were asymptomatic, while 2 (8.7%) showed gastrointestinal CMV disease at 2 months posttransplantation or CMV hepatitis at 1 month after the end of the prophylactic therapy. Treatment with intravenous gancyclovir followed by oral valgancyclovir was successful in both patients. No opportunistic infections were observed and only 1 patient developed leukopenia as an adverse event related to valgancyclovir.

[Update on fundamental and clinical research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]

This paper from a group of French experts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents an update of recent advances in fundamental, epidemiological and clinical research in ALS. Recent development in the pathogenesis of ALS suggests that motor neuron degeneration is a multifactorial and noncell autonomous process. Research has been advanced through the identification of the TAR-DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) as a common neuropathological marker of ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions. Recently, mutations in the TDP-43 gene have been described in individuals with familial and sporadic ALS. Fundamental research in ALS is expected to lead to the disclosure of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. A small trial has suggested that lithium carbonate may slow ALS progression but larger trials will be needed to confirm these results.

Egg yolk antibodies for detection and neutralization of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin

The objective of this research project was to determine the usefulness of an egg antibody platform for producing materials for the detection and neutralization of botulinum type A neurotoxin. Yield estimates for detection and neutralizing antibodies produced using methods described were calculated. Antibody specific to botulinum toxoid A (aToxoid) and toxin A (aBoNT/A) was produced by immunizing hens with botulinum toxoid A (toxoid) followed by increasing amounts of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) in Freund incomplete adjuvant. Egg yolks were extracted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for antibody detection and neutralization experiments. A model aToxoid/toxoid immunoassay using only egg yolk antibody was developed and had a detection limit of 1 pg/ml of toxoid. In an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of BoNT/A-specific antibody, the aBoNT/A contained more BoNT/A-specific antibody than did the aToxoid, and aBoNT/A was as effective as commercial rabbit antibody. The aToxoid provided no protection against BoNT/A in a standard mouse neutralization assay; however, 1 mg of PEG-extracted aBoNT/A neutralized 4,000 lethal doses of BoNT/A injected intraperitoneally. Based on these results, we calculated that in 1 month one hen could produce more than 100 liters of antibody detection reagents or enough antibody to neutralize approximately 11.6 million mouse lethal doses of botulinum toxin. Utilization of an egg antibody platform is potentially rapid (28 to 70 days) and scalable to kilogram quantities using current egg production facilities with as few as 1,000 hens.

Studies of Fe-Cu microwires with nanogranular structure

We report on the fabrication, and structural and magnetic characterization of Cu(63)Fe(37) microwires with granular structure produced by rapid quenching, using the Tailor-Ulitovsky method, from the immiscible alloys. X-ray diffraction study demonstrated that the structure consists of small (6-45 nm) crystallites of Cu and body centred cubic α-Fe. Magnetic properties have been measured in the range of 5-300 K using a SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) magnetometer. The temperature dependences of the magnetization measured in a cooling regime when no external magnetic field is applied (zero-field cooling) and in the presence of the field (field cooling) show considerable difference below 20 K. This difference could be related to the presence of small α-Fe grains embedded in the Cu matrix. Those α-Fe grains appear to be blocked at temperatures below that at which the maximum of the magnetization is observed in the low temperature range. Significant magnetoresistance (about 7%) has been found in the samples studied. The shape of the observed dependences is typical of a giant magnetoresistance effect.

Th17 cytokines interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 modulate distinct inflammatory and keratinocyte-response pathways

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease mediated by Th1 and Th17 cytokines, yet the relative contribution of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 on disease pathogenesis is still unknown.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we sought to identify the cytokines produced by skin-resident T cells in normal skin, localize the receptors for these cytokines, and examine how these cytokines alter gene expression profiles of the cells bearing cognate receptors.

METHODS

We used intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry to evaluate T cell cytokine production, and immunohistochemistry and double-label immunofluorescence to localize cytokine receptors in skin. Gene array analysis of cytokine-treated keratinocytes was performed using moderated paired t-test controlling for false discovery rate using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that T-helper cells producing IL-17, IL-22 and/or IFN-gamma, as well as the cells bearing cognate cytokine receptors, are present in normal human skin. Keratinocytes stimulated with IL-17 expressed chemokines that were different from those induced by IFN-gamma, probably contributing to the influx of neutrophils, dendritic cells and memory T cells into the psoriatic lesion. In contrast, IL-22 downregulated genes associated with keratinocyte differentiation and caused epidermal alterations in an organotypic skin model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the Th17 cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 mediate distinct downstream pathways that contribute to the psoriatic phenotype: IL-17 is more proinflammatory, while IL-22 retards keratinocyte differentiation.

Modeling of Changes in Atmosphere Composition in Fresh-cut Peach Packages due to Temperature Fluctuations

Storage temperature is not always constant in the distribution chain of modified atmosphere fresh food packages. A change in temperature means an alteration in the respiration rate of the product and in the gas transmission rates through the film. Because of their high metabolic activity, minimally processed products are particularly sensitive to temperature variation, and hence this study has been carried out with five cultivars of fresh-cut peaches (Prunus persica). Their respiratory activity has been determined by a closed system at 4, 15, and 25 °C. The peach segments are wrapped in microperforated films whose transmission rate is determined according to the size of the microperforations (between 100 × 130 μm and 215 × 190 μm). To quantify the effect of temperature fluctuations (5 h at 25 °C) on the O2 and CO2 concentrations of the packaging atmosphere of the product, a mathematical model has been applied. Using experimental data, it has been established that the rate of O2 consumption is a potential function of the O2 concentration, while the production of CO2 is linear. Although, all cultivars are of nonmelting fresh with no big differences in respiratory activity; these differences are accentuated with O2 concentrations greater than 10% and raising the temperature. The solution of the model provides knowledge of the behavior of the product during its nonstationary period and equilibrium once reached. The results show in all cases that the CO 2 concentration is more sensitive (increase of 5 units) to a break in the cold chain than that of O2 (reduction of 2 units).

Delayed blockade of the kinin B1 receptor reduces renal inflammation and fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy

Renal fibrosis is the common histological feature of advanced glomerular and tubulointerstitial disease leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, specific antifibrotic therapies to slow down the evolution to ESRD are still absent. Because persistent inflammation is a key event in the development of fibrosis, we hypothesized that the proinflammatory kinin B1 receptor (B1R) could be such a new target. Here we show that, in the unilateral ureteral obstruction model of renal fibrosis, the B1R is overexpressed and that delayed treatment with an orally active nonpeptide B1R antagonist blocks macrophage infiltration, leading to a reversal of the level of renal fibrosis. In vivo bone marrow transplantation studies as well as in vitro studies on renal cells show that part of this antifibrotic mechanism of B1R blockade involves a direct effect on resident renal cells by inhibiting chemokine CCL2 and CCL7 expression. These findings suggest that blocking the B1R is a promising antifibrotic therapy.