T cell suppression exerted by regulatory T cells represents a well-established phenomenon, but the mechanisms involved are still a matter of debate. Recent data suggest that anergic T cells can suppress responder T cell activation by inhibiting Ag presentation by dendritic cells (DC). In this study, we focused our attention on the mechanisms that regulate the susceptibility of DC to suppressive...

A soluble allogeneic effect factor (AEF) was produced by using H-2 congenic mouse strains and a serum.free cell culture medium. An AEF derived from untreated activated responder cells and irradiated stimulator cells provided helper cell function in a primary and secondary antibody response for both T-cell-depleted responder B cells and stimulator B cells. This interaction may be determined by g...

BACKGROUND One of the main reasons why the breast fat grafting was questioned is that there may be lipofilling resorption. In the literature, the resorption rate reported over the 1(st) year is highly variable (20-90%). OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to identify the biochemical and clinical parameters, which increase fat graft maintenance in breast reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS ...

BACKGROUND Although electroacupuncture (EA) relieves various types of pain, individual differences in the sensitivity to EA analgesia have been reported, causing experimental and clinical difficulties. Our functional genomic study using cDNA microarray identified that 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a well-known factor in the regulation of energy homeostasis, is the most highly expresse...

To determine whether a preoperative blood transfusion could influence corneal graft rej'ection, fullthickness 3 mm orthotopic corneal grafts were performed in Dark Agouti (DA) rats from syngeneic (DA) or allogeneic (Brown Norway and Lewis) inbred donors and in Lewis rats from syngeneic (Lewis) or allogeneic (DA) donors. Rats with syngeneic grafts showed no signs of rejection. The corneal button...

Production of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma by T cells is considered crucial for immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We evaluated IFN-gamma production in tuberculosis in the context of signaling molecules known to regulate Th1 cytokines. Two populations of patients who have active tuberculosis were identified, based on their T cell responses to the bacterium. High responder tube...

AIM To collect data from joint replacement in inhibitor patients, evaluate haemostatic and patient outcomes, and analyse the costs. METHODS We report our 21-year, single-centre cumulative experience of 15 joint arthroplasties in six inhibitor patients. RESULTS Two low responder inhibitor patients were in the early days treated with FVIII, whereas bypassing agents were used in the rest of th...

Spleen cells from C3H/HeJ mice fail to respond with polyclonal antibody synthesis to mitogenic concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which are optimal for activating spleen cells from a high-responder strain (B10.5M). This unresponsiveness is selective for LPS, since C3H/HeJ cells respond as normals to another B-cell mitogen, purified protein derivative of tuberculin. Spleen cells from low...

We study social preferences in a three-person ultimatum game experiment with one proposer and two responders. Any responder can unilaterally punish the proposer. In three treatments, we vary the pecuniary consequences of rejection in such a way that upon rejection of one responder the other responder is (i) affected negatively, (ii) not affected, and (iii) positively affected. We collect comple...