The Earth was highly radioactive four billion years ago when life emerged. Even today, all humans are bombarded by 20,000 radiation strikes each second. Although high doses hazardous, organisms have evolved not only to tolerate lower-dose but also benefit it (hormesis). Hormesis is prevailing in species various respects. An example that hibakusha (Japanese A-bomb survivors) longer lifespans and...

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study a preparation of human leucocyte interferon purified by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody and applied by repeated nasal sprays reduced the incidence and severity of colds in volunteers challenged with human rhinovirus 9. Although interferon itself caused some symptoms, these were minor compared with the clinical colds. Interferon acti...

To explore the efficacy of novel complementary prime-boost immunization regimens in a nonhuman primate model for HIV infection, rhesus monkeys primed by different DNA vaccines were boosted with virus-like particles (VLP) and then challenged by repeated low-dose rectal exposure to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Characteristic of the cellular immune response after the VLP booster immunizati...

The interleukin-12 and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) pathway of macrophage activation plays a pivotal role in controlling tuberculosis. In the murine model, the generation of supplementary nitric oxide by the induction of the nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) gene product is considered the principal antimicrobial mechanism of IFN-gamma-activated macrophages. Using a low-dose aerosol-mediated infect...

" The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. " III Börjesson A and Carlsson C. Altered proinsulin conversion in rat pancreatic islets exposed long-term to various glucose concentrations or interleukin-1ȕ. regulation of the expression of TNF-Į, IFN-Ȗ and IL-10 by s...

Dual therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who meet criteria for treatment, but it is unclear whether pegylated interferon alfa-2a or pegylated interferon alfa-2b is more effective or associated with fewer adverse events. Because data from head-to-head trials of pegylated interferon regimens are sparse, we performed ...