Katz et al. (1) have demonstrated a restriction in lymphoid cell interaction when the antigen used is under immune response (Ir) gene control. T cells from (low responder x high responder) F(1) mice primed to the terpolymer L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-tyrosine (GLT) can collaborate with 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-primed B cells from the Ir-GLT high responder but not low responder strain in respon...

Background The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness responder rate of Electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, in clinical routine work and to define clinical characteristics predictive of response to ECT. The main hypothesis is that the effectiveness responder rate of ECT might be lower in clinical routine than in controlled trials. Methods This is a population-based study of al...

background and aims: hepatitis c virus (hcv) can cause hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in a significant proportion (≈ 20 %) of individuals with chronic hcv infection (chc). currently, chc is treated with peginterferon and ribavirin, which depending on genotype approximately 50 to 70% of patients are cured. the so-called “extrahepatic hcv infection” or viral replication in regions of the body oth...

Defining responders to cell treatment based on functional measurements in cardiac stem cell trials has been troublesome, and it may be considered as the Holy Grail. The functional recovery after myocardial infarction (MI) can range from only mild impairments and recovery to progression into heart failure at the next clinical visit regardless of the therapy given. In a clinical trial with adequa...

To examine the alterations of intracellular Ca2' ([Ca2"]i)-handling mechanisms in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of rat aorta (Shin et al Circ Res 1991;69:551-556), we stimulated VSMCs by extracellular high K', caffeine, and angiotensin II and evaluated Ca2' influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release, and inositol trisphosphate-dependent Ca2+ releas...

Exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise predicts future hypertension. However, there is considerable lack of understanding regarding the mechanism of how this abnormal response is generated, and how it relates to the future establishment of cardiovascular disease. The authors studied 82 healthy male volunteers without cardiovascular risk factors. The participants were categorized i...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study is to evaluate the accuracy of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) with Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) to predict treatment response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-one LARC patients performed [18F]FDG-PET/CT at baseline (PET0). All patients recei...

BACKGROUND Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) can be used in the treatment of focal cartilage injuries to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis (OA). However, we are yet to understand fully why some individuals do not respond well to this intervention. Identification of a reliable and accurate biomarker panel that can predict which patients are likely to respond well to ACI is needed in or...