Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a morbillivirus known to cause morbidity and mortality in a broad range of animals. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), especially captive ones, are susceptible to natural infection with CDV. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a powerful adjuvant molecule that can enhance the development of antigen-specific immunity and vaccine efficacy. In this study, a giant panda IL...

OBJECTIVES Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) is a natural coumarin with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity. It acts as a potent inhibitor of lipoxygenases (5-LOX and 12-LOX) and decreases the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9). Because both inhibition of lipoxygenases and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases are effective strategies in...

Background: Desmoid tumors are rare neoplasms of uncertain etiology arising from fascial or deep musculoaponeurotic structures. Although with benign histological appearance and no metastatic potential, desmoid tumors are locally aggressive tumors with a high rate of local recurrence. Case Report: The case of a 47 years old woman repeatedly operated for a recurrent desmoid tumor of the right thi...

Nanomedicine, the medical application of nanotechnology, promises a seemingly limitless range of applications from drug delivery to adjuvants and therapeutics. Our current research is focused on natural polymer-based liposome adjuvants. With the aim of inducing protective and long-lasting immunity, the immunological adjuvant activity of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide liposome (RGPL) was inv...

Liver metastases develop in 50% to 60% of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Surgical resection offers a good five-year survival rate and the only chance of cure. In this article, the natural history and risk factors for the development of colorectal liver metastases are discussed, followed by the diagnostic work-up towards surgical resection. Various issues pertaining to surgical management, ...

Triphenylethylene structures similar to tamoxifen (Nolvadex) were first used in the 1940s, but in comparison to synthetic and natural estrogens used at that time, they were not particularly potent antitumor agents. [1,2] Tamoxifen was introduced into the clinic in 1969. Because of its much improved toxicity profile over the estrogens and androgens in use at that time, it rapidly gained acceptan...

Natural infections expose the immune system to escalating antigen and inflammation over days to weeks, whereas nonlive vaccines are single bolus events. We explored whether the immune system responds optimally to antigen kinetics most similar to replicating infections, rather than a bolus dose. Using HIV antigens, we found that administering a given total dose of antigen and adjuvant over 1-2 w...

Uterine sarcomas comprise a group of rare tumors with differing tumor biology, natural history and response to treatment. Diagnosis is often made following surgery for presumed benign disease. Currently, preoperative imaging does not reliably distinguish between benign leiomyomas and other malignant pathology. Uterine leiomyosarcoma is the most common sarcoma, but other subtypes include endomet...

Most cancer-associated deaths result from metastasis. However, it remains unknown whether the size, microenvironment or other features of a metastatic lesion dictate its behaviour or determine the efficacy of chemotherapy in the adjuvant (micrometastatic) setting. Here we delineate the natural history of metastasis in an autochthonous model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), using line...

Triphenylethylene structures similar to tamoxifen (Nolvadex) were first used in the 1940s, but in comparison to synthetic and natural estrogens used at that time, they were not particularly potent antitumor agents. [1,2] Tamoxifen was introduced into the clinic in 1969. Because of its much improved toxicity profile over the estrogens and androgens in use at that time, it rapidly gained acceptan...