The condition of hydrocephalus (HCP) and its secondary sequelae have been well documented. Previous reports have documented the impact of an enlarging ventricular system on the developing brain and neuropsychological consequences in HCP children. Furthermore, most children with shunted HCP have been reported to demonstrate poorer non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) scores relative to verbal I...

Biopharmaceutical products must be proved to be minimized as much as possible of contaminating host cell proteins (HCPs) prior to approval by the regulatory authorities. Commonly, ELISAs are used for HCP determination and authorities ask for clear and manifest proof that the antibodies used in the HCP ELISA are fit for purpose. Their suitability needs to be shown, not only by the obtained ELISA...

BACKGROUND Vaccinating healthcare personnel (HCP) against influenza is important to prevent transmission and morbidity among patients and staff. METHODS We conducted an online survey assessing knowledge, perceptions and attitudes concerning influenza vaccination among HCP. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of vaccination. RESULTS The survey wa...

Objective: To investigate the effects of physiological doses of hydrocortisone on synthesis and turnover of cell associated matrix (CAM) by human chondrocytes obtained from normal articular cartilage. Methods: Human articular cartilage cells were obtained from visually intact cartilage of the femoral condyles of five donors and maintained in culture for one week to reach equilibrium in accumula...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of physiological doses of hydrocortisone on synthesis and turnover of cell associated matrix (CAM) by human chondrocytes obtained from normal articular cartilage. METHODS Human articular cartilage cells were obtained from visually intact cartilage of the femoral condyles of five donors and maintained in culture for one week to reach equilibrium in accumula...

Bacground: Evidence from several lines of investigations suggests that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is involved in atherosclerosis as a bridge between innate and acquired immunity. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can trigger inflammation through activation of human TLR4 (hTLR4) on monocytes. Hydrocortisone as an anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant agent has multiple mechanisms of a...

Very primitive human hematopoietic progenitor cells are identified indirectly by their ability to give rise to clonogenic progenitors in the presence of either human or murine stromal cells. These long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays are usually performed in the presence of hydrocortisone based on the initial observation that hydrocortisone was required for prolonged hematopoiesis ...

This report updates the previously published summary of recommendations for vaccinating health-care personnel (HCP) in the United States (CDC. Immunization of health-care workers: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP] and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee [HICPAC]. MMWR 1997;46[No. RR-18]). This report was reviewed by and includes i...

The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a widespread macromolecular structure that delivers protein effectors to both eukaryotic and prokaryotic recipient cells. The current model describes the T6SS as an inverted phage tail composed of a sheath-like structure wrapped around a tube assembled by stacked Hcp hexamers. Although recent progress has been made to understand T6SS sheath assembly and dy...