J Transl Med
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Infections caused by bacteria or viruses are frequent in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients due to antibody deficiencies, which may be associated with altered T cell function. CVID patients are frequently in contact with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), leading to the activation of innate immunity through Toll-like receptors (TLR) affecting T cell activation. We evaluated the effect of TLR activation on T cells in CVID patients undergoing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) replacement using synthetic ligands. ⋯ The data show that despite the unresponsive profile of CD8(+) T cells to TLR activation, CD4(+) T cells and Tc22/Th22 cells are responsive, suggesting that activation of innate immunity by TLRs could be a strategy to stimulate CD4(+) T cells in CVID.
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Extracellular peroxiredoxin 1 (Prdx1) has been implicated to play a pivotal role in regulating inflammation; however, its function in tissue hypoxia-induced inflammation, such as severe cardiogenic shock patients, has not yet been defined. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that Prdx1 possesses prognostic value and instigates systemic inflammatory response syndrome in cardiogenic shock patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. ⋯ Prdx1 release during the early phase of ECMO support in cardiogenic shock patients is associated with the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and poor clinical outcomes. Thus, circulating Prdx1 provides not only prognostic information but may be a promising target against ischemia/reperfusion injury.
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Exacerbations of asthma caused by respiratory viral infections are serious conditions in need of novel treatment. To this end animal models of asthma exacerbations are warranted. We have shown that dsRNA challenges or rhinoviral infection produce exacerbation effects in mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. However, house dust mite (HDM) is a more human asthma-relevant allergen than OVA. We thus hypothesised that dsRNA challenges in mice with HDM-induced experimental asthma would produce important translational features of asthma exacerbations. ⋯ We demonstrate several novel aspects of HDM-induced experimental asthma and added exacerbation effects of dsRNA. General inflammatory parameters in BALF such as exuded proteins, mixed granulocytes, LDH and ATP were increased at the present exacerbations as they are in human asthma exacerbations. We suggest that this model of asthma exacerbation involving dsRNA challenges given to mice with established HDM-induced asthma has translational value and suggest that it may be particularly suited for in vivo studies involving pharmacological effects on exacerbation-induced expression of major upstream TH2-cytokines; IL-33, TSLP and IL-25, as well as PRRs.
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Translational research tries to apply findings from basic science to enhance human health and well-being. Many phases of the translational research may include non-medical tasks (information technology, engineering, nanotechnology, biochemistry, animal research, economy, sociology, psychology, politics, and so on). ⋯ The purpose of this paper is to argument the need for a different approach to the morality in translational bioethics, and to suggest some directions that might be followed when constructing such a bioethics. We will show that a new approach is needed and present a few ethical issues that are specific to the translational research.
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Regional anesthesia has several advantages over general anesthesia but requires accurate needle placement to be effective. To achieve accurate placement, a needle equipped with optical fibers that allows tissue discrimination at the needle tip based on optical spectroscopy is proposed. This study investigates the sensitivity and specificity with which this optical needle can discriminate nerves from the surrounding tissues making use of different classification methods. ⋯ This study showed that spectral tissue sensing, based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy at the needle tip, is a promising technique to discriminate fascicular tissue of the nerve from the surrounding tissues. The technique may therefore improve accurate needle placement near the nerve which is necessary for effective nerve blocks in regional anesthesia.