Impact of Nutritional Status on Antibody Titer After Booster mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Among Elderly Adults in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Published studies on mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine effects focus on younger individuals, comprising the majority of the workforce. Studies in elderly adults are sparse. METHODS: In total, 107 subjects were recruited (median age 78; interquartile range [IQR], 58.5-90.5; range, 35-105 years). Factors associated with antibody titer after the third mRNA COVID-19 vaccination were compared between 49 elderly (age ≥80; median, 94; IQR, 86-97; range, 80-105 years) and 58 younger (age ≤79; median, 61; IQR, 46-71; range, 35-79 years) adults. RESULTS: Among body mass index (BMI) categories, the group of underweight elderly adults had a lower antibody titer compared to those with normal weight (P < .01 after 1, 3, and 5 months). Elderly adults were less likely to maintain effective antibody titer (≥4160 AU/mL) compared to younger adults: 76% versus 98%, P < .001 after 1 month, and 45% versus 78%, P < .001 after 3 months. Elderly adults who maintained effective antibody titer for 5 months had a higher BMI (22.9 kg/m2 vs 20.1 kg/m2, P = .02), and were less likely to have underweight BMI (0% vs 31%, P = .02) compared to the subjects who failed to maintain effective antibody titer. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the impact of nutritional status and the deleterious effect of underweight BMI on antibody titer and its maintenance among elderly adults following booster mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Analyzing factors affecting positivity in drive-through COVID-19 testing: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Demand for COVID-19 testing prompted the implementation of drive-through testing systems. However, limited research has examined factors influencing testing positivity in this setting. METHODS: From October 2020 to March 2023, a total of 1,341 patients, along with their clinical information, were referred from local clinics to the Sasebo City COVID-19 drive-through PCR center for testing. Association between clinical information or factors related to the drive-through center and testing results was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Individuals testing positive exhibited higher frequencies of upper respiratory symptoms; cough (OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.8), p < 0.001, q = 0.005), sore throat (OR 2.4 (95% CI 1.9-3.0), p < 0.001, q < 0.001), runny nose (OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8), p = 0.002, q = 0.009), and systemic symptoms; fever (OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.1-2.0), p = 0.006, q = 0.02), headache (OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.4-2.5), p < 0.001, q < 0.001), and joint pain (OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.8-4.1), p < 0.001, q < 0.001). Conversely, gastrointestinal symptoms; diarrhea (OR 0.2 (95% CI 0.1-0.4), p < 0.001, q < 0.001) and nausea (OR 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.6), p < 0.001, q < 0.001) were less prevalent among positives. During omicron strain predominant period, higher testing positivity rate (OR 20 (95% CI 13-31), p < 0.001) and shorter period from symptom onset to testing (3.2 vs. 6.0 days, p < 0.001) were observed compared to pre-omicron period. Besides symptoms, contact history with infected persons at home (OR 4.5 (95% CI 3.1-6.5), p < 0.001, q < 0.001) and in office or school (OR 2.9 (95% CI 2.1-4.1), p < 0.001, q < 0.001), as well as the number of sample collection experiences by collectors (B 7.2 (95% CI 2.8-12), p = 0.002) were also associated with testing results. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of factors related to drive-through centers, especially contact history interviews and sample collection skills, for achieving higher rates of COVID-19 testing positivity. They also contribute to enhanced preparedness for next infectious disease pandemics.

Association between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life of patients with gynecologic cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Patients often struggle with their financial situation during cancer treatment due to treatment-related costs or loss of income. This resulting negative effect is called financial toxicity, which is a known as a side effect of cancer care. This study aimed to evaluate the association between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life among patients with gynecologic cancer using validated questionnaires. METHODS: In this multicenter study, patients with gynecologic cancer receiving anti-cancer drug treatment for > 2 months were recruited. Patients answered the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool, EORTC-QLQ-C30, disease-specific tools (EORTC-QLQ-OV28/CX24/EN24), and EQ-5D-5L. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine associations. RESULTS: Between April 2019 and July 2021, 109 cancer patients completed the COST questionnaire. The mean COST score was 19.82. Strong associations were observed between financial difficulty (r = - 0.616) in the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and body image (r = 0.738) in the EORTC-QLQ-CX24, while weak associations were noted between the global health status/quality of life (r = 0.207), EQ-5D-5L index score (r = 0.252), and several function and symptom scale scores with the COST score. CONCLUSIONS: Greater financial toxicity was associated with worse health-related quality of life scores, such as financial difficulty in gynecologic cancer patients and body image in cervical cancer patients as strong associations, and weakly associated with general health-related quality of life scores and several function/symptom scales.

Efficacy and safety of standard of care with/without bevacizumab for platinum-resistant ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal cancer previously treated with bevacizumab: The Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study JGOG3023.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of further bevacizumab therapy in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer whose disease had progressed after bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. In this multicenter, open-label, phase II trial (JGOG3023), patients were randomized 1:1 to a single-agent chemotherapy alone (either pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [40 or 50 mg/m2 administered intravenously], topotecan [1.25 mg/m2 intravenously], paclitaxel [80 mg/m2 intravenously], or gemcitabine [1000 mg/m2 intravenously]) or single-agent chemotherapy + bevacizumab (15 mg/m2 intravenously). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) according to RECIST version 1.1. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and response rate according to Gynecological Cancer Intergroup cancer antigen 125 criteria. In total, 103 patients were allocated to chemotherapy (n = 51) or chemotherapy + bevacizumab (n = 52). Median investigator-assessed PFS was 3.1 and 4.0 mo in each group, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.90, P = .0082). Median OS was 11.3 and 15.3 mo in each group, respectively (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.38-1.17, P = .1556). Respective ORRs were 13.7% and 25.0% (P = .0599) and response rates were 16.7% and 21.4% (P = .8273). The incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs was 42.0% in the chemotherapy group and 54.9% in the chemotherapy + bevacizumab group; AEs were well tolerated, with only 2 and 12 events leading to discontinuation of therapy, respectively. Bevacizumab was effective beyond progressive disease and AEs were manageable. The observed improvement in PFS requires further verification.

Validity of the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) in patients with gynecologic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Financial toxicity is a financial burden of cancer care itself, which leads to worse quality of life and higher mortality and is considered an adverse effect. The COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) tool is a patient-reported outcome measurement used to evaluate financial toxicity. We aimed to validate the internal consistency and reproducibility of the COST tool in patients with gynecologic cancer. METHODS: In this multicenter study covering the period April 2019 to July 2021, using the COST tool in Japan, patients diagnosed with ovarian, cervical, or endometrial cancer receiving systemic anti-cancer drug therapy for more than 2 months were eligible. Patients with no out-of-pocket costs for direct medical costs were excluded. The patients answered the initial test and a retest, which was completed from 2 to 14 days after the initial test. Internal consistency and reproducibility were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Cronbach's alpha ≥0.8 indicates good internal consistency, and ICC ≥0.8 is highly reliable. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients (ovarian: 50, cervical: 26, endometrial: 36) responded to the initial test, and 89 patients answered the retest from 2 to 14 days after the initial test. The median patient age was 58 (range, 28-78) years. The median COST score was 19. Cronbach's alpha showed good internal consistency at 0.83 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.87). The ICC at 0.850 (95% CI 0.777 to 0.900) showed high reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The COST tool has good internal consistency and reliable reproducibility in patients with gynecologic cancer in Japan. The COST tool quantifies financial toxicity in the insurance system, where patients have limited out-of-pocket direct medical costs. The results support the use of the COST tool in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Flowering Date1, a major photoperiod sensitivity gene in adzuki bean, is a soybean floral repressor E1 ortholog.

Adzuki bean is an important legume crop originating in temperate regions, with photoperiod in sensitivity being a key factor in its latitudinal adaptation. The Flowering Date1 (FD1) gene has a large effect on the photoperiodic response of flowering time, but the molecular basis for the effect of this locus is undetermined. The present study delimited the FD1 locus to a 17.1 kb sequence, containing a single gene, an E1 ortholog (VaE1). A comparison between Vigna angularis 'Shumari' (photoperiod insensitive) and 'Acc2265' (photoperiod sensitive) identified 29 insertions/deletions and 178 SNPs upstream of VaE1 in the FD1 locus. VaE1 expression in 'Acc2265' was greater under long-day than short-day conditions, whereas VaE1 expression in 'Shumari' was lower regardless of day length. These findings suggested that responsible gene of FD1 is a VaE1, which acts as a floral repressor by being upregulated in response to long-day conditions. The inability to upregulate VaE1 under long-day conditions was linked to its ability to flower under these conditions. These results provide greater understanding of the molecular control of a flowering date and clues enabling the breeding of adzuki bean at higher latitudes.

Mapping of QTLs controlling epicotyl length in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis).

Epicotyl length (ECL) of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) affects the efficiency of mechanized weeding and harvest. The present study investigated the genetic factors controlling ECL. An F2 population derived from a cross between the breeding line 'Tokei1121' (T1121, long epicotyls) and the cultivar 'Erimo167' (common epicotyls) was phenotyped for ECL and genotyped using simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A molecular linkage map was generated and fifty-two segregating markers, including 27 SSRs and 25 SNPs, were located on seven linkage groups (LGs) at a LOD threshold value of 3.0. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for ECL, with LOD scores of 4.0, 3.4, 4.8 and 6.4, were identified on LGs 2, 4, 7 and 10, respectively; together, these four QTLs accounted for 49.3% of the phenotypic variance. The segregation patterns observed in F5 residual heterozygous lines at qECL10 revealed that a single recessive gene derived from T1121 contributed to the longer ECL phenotype. Using five insertion and deletion markers, this gene was fine mapped to a ~255 kb region near the end of LG10. These findings will facilitate marker-assisted selection for breeding in the adzuki bean and contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms associated with epicotyl elongation.

Switching dynamics of silicon waveguide optical modulator driven by photothermally induced metal-insulator transition of vanadium dioxide cladding layer.

We investigated the switching dynamics of optical modulators consisting of a Si waveguide with a VO2 cladding layer by utilizing the photothermal effect, which induces a metal-insulator transition in VO2. The devices exhibited stable optical switching with a high extinction ratio exceeding 16 dB. The switching time of the insulator-to-metal transition (heating process) ranged from tens of nanoseconds to microseconds depending on the incident light power, and that of the metal-to-insulator transition (cooling process) was several microseconds regardless of the incident light power. The heat transfer in the devices was numerically simulated to reproduce the switching characteristics and revealed that the temperature change in the first few micrometers of the VO2/Si waveguide governed the switching time. The thermal structural design of the device is thus of key importance to improve the switching speed of the device.

Impact of HLA Allele-KIR Pairs on HIV Clinical Outcome in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: HLA class I contributes to HIV immune control through antigen presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. In contrast to investigations of CTL, studies of NK cells in HIV control through HLA-killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) interactions remain sparse in African cohorts. METHODS: Treatment-naive, chronically HIV-infected adults (N = 312) were recruited from South Africa, and the effects of HLA-KIR pairs on clinical outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in viral load among all subjects with HLA alleles from the HLA-C1 group (P = .1). However, differences in HLA-C type significantly influenced viremia among 247 KIR2DL3 positives (P = .04), suggesting that specific HLA-KIR interactions contribute to immune control. Higher viral load (P = .02) and lower CD4+ T-cell counts (P = .008) were observed in subjects with HLA-C*16:01+KIR2DL3+. Longitudinal analysis showed more rapid progression to AIDS among HLA-C*16:01+KIR2DL3+ subjects (adjusted hazard ratio 1.9, P = .03) than those without this genotype, independent of CD4+ T-cell count and viral load. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the existence of unique anti-HIV innate immunity within distinct populations and the contribution of KIR on NK cells and some CTLs to the well-described HLA-mediated impact on HIV disease progression.

Differential Immunodominance Hierarchy of CD8+ T-Cell Responses in HLA-B*27:05- and -B*27:02-Mediated Control of HIV-1 Infection.

The well-characterized association between HLA-B*27:05 and protection against HIV disease progression has been linked to immunodominant HLA-B*27:05-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses toward the conserved Gag KK10 (residues 263 to 272) and polymerase (Pol) KY9 (residues 901 to 909) epitopes. We studied the impact of the 3 amino acid differences between HLA-B*27:05 and the closely related HLA-B*27:02 on the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response hierarchy and on immune control of HIV. Genetic epidemiological data indicate that both HLA-B*27:02 and HLA-B*27:05 are associated with slower disease progression and lower viral loads. The effect of HLA-B*27:02 appeared to be consistently stronger than that of HLA-B*27:05. In contrast to HLA-B*27:05, the immunodominant HIV-specific HLA-B*27:02-restricted CD8+ T-cell response is to a Nef epitope (residues 142 to 150 [VW9]), with Pol KY9 subdominant and Gag KK10 further subdominant. This selection was driven by structural differences in the F pocket, mediated by a polymorphism between these two HLA alleles at position 81. Analysis of autologous virus sequences showed that in HLA-B*27:02-positive subjects, all three of these CD8+ T-cell responses impose selection pressure on the virus, whereas in HLA-B*27:05-positive subjects, there is no Nef VW9-mediated selection pressure. These studies demonstrate that HLA-B*27:02 mediates protection against HIV disease progression that is at least as strong as or stronger than that mediated by HLA-B*27:05. In combination with the protective Gag KK10 and Pol KY9 CD8+ T-cell responses that dominate HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell activity in HLA-B*27:05-positive subjects, a Nef VW9-specific response is additionally present and immunodominant in HLA-B*27:02-positive subjects, mediated through a polymorphism at residue 81 in the F pocket, that contributes to selection pressure against HIV.IMPORTANCE CD8+ T cells play a central role in successful control of HIV infection and have the potential also to mediate the eradication of viral reservoirs of infection. The principal means by which protective HLA class I molecules, such as HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-B*57:01, slow HIV disease progression is believed to be via the particular HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses restricted by those alleles. We focus here on HLA-B*27:05, one of the best-characterized protective HLA molecules, and the closely related HLA-B*27:02, which differs by only 3 amino acids and which has not been well studied in relation to control of HIV infection. We show that HLA-B*27:02 is also protective against HIV disease progression, but the CD8+ T-cell immunodominance hierarchy of HLA-B*27:02 differs strikingly from that of HLA-B*27:05. These findings indicate that the immunodominant HLA-B*27:02-restricted Nef response adds to protection mediated by the Gag and Pol specificities that dominate anti-HIV CD8+ T-cell activity in HLA-B*27:05-positive subjects.

Silicon waveguide optical modulator driven by metal-insulator transition of vanadium dioxide cladding layer.

We have fabricated compact optical modulators consisting of a Si waveguide with a VO2 cladding layer. These devices showed a sharp decrease in transmittance at around 60 °C, which is attributable to the metal-insulator transition of the VO2 cladding layer. By systematically varying the length of the device, we evaluated the transmission losses per unit length of the device to be 1.27 dB/µm, when the VO2 cladding layer was in the insulating (ON) state and 4.55 dB/µm when it was in the metallic (OFF) state. Furthermore, we found that the device showed an additional loss in the OFF state, which is attributable to a structural effect. As a result, an 8-µm-long device showed a large extinction ratio of more than 33 dB.

45-degree curved micro-mirror for vertical optical I/O of silicon photonics chip.

The broadband vertical optical inputs/outputs (I/Os) of silicon (Si) photonics pose significant challenges in terms of practical applications. Herein, we worked on a vertical optical I/O using a 45° curved micro-mirror. To verify the optical coupling characteristics, a simulation was conducted. As a result, efficient broadband optical coupling with various types of single-mode optical fibers was obtained owing to its lens function. An integration technology of the curved mirror was also developed based on the semiconductor manufacturing process. A curved micro-mirror with a spherical surface was obtained, and the vertical optical I/O with its lens function was demonstrated experimentally.

DELLA-GAF1 Complex Is a Main Component in Gibberellin Feedback Regulation of GA20 Oxidase 2.

Gibberellins (GAs) are phytohormones that regulate many aspects of plant growth and development, including germination, elongation, flowering, and floral development. Negative feedback regulation contributes to homeostasis of the GA level. DELLAs are negative regulators of GA signaling and are rapidly degraded in the presence of GAs. DELLAs regulate many target genes, including AtGA20ox2 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), encoding the GA-biosynthetic enzyme GA 20-oxidase. As DELLAs do not have an apparent DNA-binding motif, transcription factors that act in association with DELLA are necessary for regulating the target genes. Previous studies have identified GAI-ASSOCIATED FACTOR1 (GAF1) as such a DELLA interactor, with which DELLAs act as coactivators, and AtGA20ox2 was identified as a target gene of the DELLA-GAF1 complex. In this study, electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that four GAF1-binding sites exist in the AtGA20ox2 promoter. Using transgenic plants, we further evaluated the contribution of the DELLA-GAF1 complex to GA feedback regulation. Mutations in four GAF1-binding sites abolished the negative feedback of AtGA20ox2 in transgenic plants. Our results showed that GAF1-binding sites are necessary for GA feedback regulation of AtGA20ox2, suggesting that the DELLA-GAF1 complex is a main component of the GA feedback regulation of AtGA20ox2.

Propensity Score Analysis of Radical Hysterectomy Versus Definitive Chemoradiation for FIGO Stage IIB Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes and toxicities of radical hysterectomy (RH) and definitive chemoradiation (CRT) for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIB cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on FIGO stage IIB patients who underwent RH with adjuvant radiotherapy (surgery group) or intended to receive CRT (CRT group). The distributions of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for the 2 groups based on age, tumor diameter, histological type, and pelvic node metastasis in pretreatment imaging tests. RESULTS: Median follow-up times were 58 months in the surgery group (n = 75) and 55 months in the CRT group (n = 65). Propensity score matching identified 37 patients with similar characteristics from each group. Significant differences were observed in the ratio of the chemotherapy combination between the surgery and CRT groups before (47% vs 98%) and after PSM (51% vs 100%). Five-year DFS rates were slightly higher in the surgery group than in the CRT group before PSM (69% vs 58%, P = 0.30) but were similar after PSM (76% vs 82%, P = 0.36). Five-year OS rates were similar between the surgery and CRT groups before (70% vs 75%, P = 0.59) and after PSM (78% vs 77%, P = 0.97). The results of multivariate analyses also showed that neither DFS nor OS was associated with the treatment modalities regardless of PSM. The incidence of late toxicities grade 2 or greater was similar between the surgery and CRT groups before (17% vs 23%, P = 0.31) and after PSM (19% vs 24%, P = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that RH with adjuvant radiotherapy and definitive CRT are equivalent treatment options for patients with FIGO stage IIB cancer. However, prospective larger studies are needed to confirm this.

Role of Extensive Lymphadenectomy in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Patients With Radical Hysterectomy Followed by Adjuvant Radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of extensive lymphadenectomy on survival of early-stage cervical cancer patients with radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on early-stage patients with high-risk factors who received radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant RT. All patients were divided into the less than or equal to 40 dissected pelvic lymph nodes (DPLN ≤40) and greater than 40 dissected pelvic lymph nodes (DPLN >40) groups to assess the effect of extensive lymphadenectomy. Distributions of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Significance of survival was assessed by the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the effects of the factors on survival by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 76 months for a total of 178 patients, 5-year DFS of the DPLN >40 group was significantly higher than that of the DPLN ≤40 group (86% vs 74%, P = 0.045). Five-year OS was comparable between the 2 groups (85% vs 78%, P = 0.49). The multivariate analysis showed that the DPLN ≤40 group was at a significantly higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-4.8; P = 0.020), whereas OS was not affected by the DPLN group (P = 0.26). Positive pelvic lymph node, parametrial invasion, histological type, and the absence of RT-combined chemotherapy remained significant prognostic factors for lower DFS and OS by the multivariate analysis. Adjusted hazard ratio of DPLN ≤40 for DFS was 1.2 (95% CI, 0.11-12; P = 0.91) in patients with negative pelvic lymph node (PLN) whereas it was 2.6 (95% CI, 1.1-5.8; P = 0.024) in patients with positive PLN. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that more extensive lymphadenectomy significantly improve the outcomes of patients with positive PLN even followed by adjuvant RT.

Ultrahigh-Q photonic crystal nanocavities fabricated by CMOS process technologies.

We fabricated photonic crystal high-quality factor (Q) nanocavities on a 300-mm-wide silicon-on-insulator wafer by using argon fluoride immersion photolithography. The heterostructure nanocavities showed an average experimental Q value of 1.5 million for 12 measured samples. The highest Q value was 2.3 million, which represents a record for a nanocavity fabricated by complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible machinery. We also demonstrated an eight-channel drop filter with 4 nm spacing consisting of arrayed nanocavities with three missing air holes. The standard deviation in the drop wavelength was less than 1 nm. These results will accelerate ultrahigh-Q nanocavity research in various areas.

Lower Viral Loads and Slower CD4+ T-Cell Count Decline in MRKAd5 HIV-1 Vaccinees Expressing Disease-Susceptible HLA-B*58:02.

BACKGROUND: HLA strongly influences human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression. A major contributory mechanism is via the particular HLA-presented HIV-1 epitopes that are recognized by CD8(+) T-cells. Different populations vary considerably in the HLA alleles expressed. We investigated the HLA-specific impact of the MRKAd5 HIV-1 Gag/Pol/Nef vaccine in a subset of the infected Phambili cohort in whom the disease-susceptible HLA-B*58:02 is highly prevalent. METHODS: Viral loads, CD4(+) T-cell counts, and enzyme-linked immunospot assay-determined anti-HIV-1 CD8(+) T-cell responses for a subset of infected antiretroviral-naive Phambili participants, selected according to sample availability, were analyzed. RESULTS: Among those expressing disease-susceptible HLA-B*58:02, vaccinees had a lower chronic viral set point than placebo recipients (median, 7240 vs 122 500 copies/mL; P = .01), a 0.76 log10 lower longitudinal viremia level (P = .01), and slower progression to a CD4(+) T-cell count of <350 cells/mm(3) (P = .02). These differences were accompanied by a higher Gag-specific breadth (4.5 vs 1 responses; P = .04) and magnitude (2300 vs 70 spot-forming cells/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells; P = .06) in vaccinees versus placebo recipients. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the known enhancement of HIV-1 acquisition resulting from the MRKAd5 HIV-1 vaccine, these findings in a nonrandomized subset of enrollees show an HLA-specific vaccine effect on the time to CD4(+) T-cell count decline and viremia level after infection and the potential for vaccines to differentially alter disease outcome according to population HLA composition. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00413725, DOH-27-0207-1539.

Contrasting intra- and extracellular distribution of catalytic ferrous iron in ovalbumin-induced peritonitis.

Iron is an essential nutrient for every type of life on earth. However, excess iron is cytotoxic and can lead to an increased cancer risk in humans. Catalytic ferrous iron [Fe(II)] is an initiator of the Fenton reaction, which causes oxidative stress by generating hydroxyl radicals. Recently, it became possible to localize catalytic Fe(II) in situ with a turn-on fluorescent probe, RhoNox-1. Here, we screened each organ/cell of rats to globally evaluate the distribution of catalytic Fe(II) and found that eosinophils showed the highest abundance. In various cells, lysosomes were the major organelle, sharing ∼40-80% of RhoNox-1 fluorescence. We then used an ovalbumin-induced allergic peritonitis model to study the dynamics of catalytic Fe(II). Peritoneal lavage revealed that the total iron contents per cell were significantly decreased, whereas an increase in the number of inflammatory cells (macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes) resulted in an increased total iron content of the peritoneal inflammatory cells. Notably, macrophages, eosinophils and neutrophils exhibited significantly increased catalytic Fe(II) with increased DMT1 expression and decreased ferritin expression, though catalytic Fe(II) was significantly decreased in the peritoneal lavage fluid. In conclusion, catalytic Fe(II) in situ more directly reflects cellular activity and the accompanying pathology than total iron does.

Anti-Müllerian hormone levels after laparoscopic cystectomy for endometriomas as a possible predictor for pregnancy in infertility treatments.

We assessed the associations between preoperative and postoperative serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and parameters of endometriosis and endometriomas surgery with the success of infertility treatments after cystectomy. Seventeen out of 54 patients got pregnant during the infertility treatments. In these patients, the median interval from surgery to conception was 16.3 months. The serum AMH levels 1-year postoperatively were significantly higher in the pregnant group compared to the non-pregnant group (3.44 ± 1.78 versus 2.17 ± 2.24 ng/ml, p = 0.049). The median interval from surgery to recurrence was 34.4 months, and no significant differences were found in the serum AMH levels at any time point between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. Serum AMH levels 1 year after laparoscopic cystectomy for endometriomas may predict the success of postoperative infertility treatments, but not a recurrence of endometriomas.