Effects of the mixing ratio of the CaAl12O19:mn and Zn2SiO4:mn color-conversion layer on the color tunable emissions of white organic light-emitting devices.

The optical properties of white organic light-emitting devices (WOLEDs) fabricated utilizing a CaAl12O19:Mn and Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor layer were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns for CaAl12O19:Mn and Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphors showed that Mn ions in the CaAl12O19:Mn phosphors were completely substituted into Ca ions and that Mn ions in the Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphors were completely substituted into Zn ions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images showed that the size of the CaAl12O19:Mn phosphor was approximately between 0.1 and 3 microm, and that the size of the Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor was smaller than 7 microm. The color coordinates of the electroluminescence spectra for WOLEDs with phosphor thicknesses of 0.25 and 0.35 mm shifted to the white emission side because the generated blue light from the blue OLEDs combined with the red and green lights was converted by the CaAl12O19:Mn and the Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor down-conversion layers.

Different contribution of co-stimulatory molecules B7.1 and B7.2 to the immune response to recombinant modified vaccinia virus ankara vaccine expressing prM/E proteins of Japanese encephalitis virus and two hepatitis B virus vaccines.

This study clarifies the role of co-stimulatory molecules B7.1 and B7.2 in the immune response to 3 types of vaccines: a/ recombinant modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) (vJH9) expressing prM/E proteins of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), b/ recombinant yeast-expressed Hepatitis B virus (YHBV), c/ human plasma-derived Hepatitis B virus (PHBV). We constructed plasmids expressing B7.1 and B7.2 molecules and found that the expression level of B7.2 protein in transfected CHO-k1 cells was higher than that of B7.1 protein. Mice were co-injected with vaccines vJH9, YHBV and PHBV and plasmids expressing B7.1 or B7.2, respectively, and specific antibody titers for each vaccine were monitored at days 7, 14 and 28 post injection (p.i.). In mice injected with vJH9 vaccine and both B7 plasmids, plasmid B7.2 induced a higher anti-JEV immune response than plasmid B7.1. This implies that the stimulation of the B7.2 immune pathway may be a feasible method of boosting protective immunity against a recombinant viral vaccine. Both B7 molecules were able to induce a specific anti-HBV immune response using YHBV vaccine. On the other hand, B7 molecules had little effect to the specific antibody induction in PHBV vaccination. These results suggested that the contribution of B7.1 and B7.2 molecules in an immune response depended on the character and status of the presenting antigen.

Increased T helper 1 cytokine responses by circulating T cells are present in women with recurrent pregnancy losses and in infertile women with multiple implantation failures after IVF.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 intracellular cytokine expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) or infertility with multiple implantation failures after IVF cycles. METHODS: Twenty-six women with three or more RSA and 23 with two or more IVF failures (14 with no history of spontaneous abortion (SAB) and nine with more than one SAB) comprised the two study groups. Twenty-one non-pregnant healthy multiparous women served as controls. Proportions (%) of lymphocytes containing IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-10 and the Th1/Th2 ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4, IFN-gamma/IL-10, TNF-alpha/IL-4 and TNF-alpha/IL-10 in CD3+, CD3+/CD8- (T helper) and CD3+/CD8+ (T suppressor) cells were measured by 4-colour flow cytometry. RESULTS: RSA women demonstrated significantly higher Th1/Th2 ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 (P < 0.01), TNF-alpha/IL-4 and TNF-alpha/IL-10 (P < 0.05 each) in CD3+/CD8- T helper cells than those of controls. The proportion of TNF-alpha producing CD3+/CD8- cells (P < 0.05), and the Th1/Th2 ratios of TNF-alpha/IL-4 (P < 0.05) and TNF-alpha/IL-10 (P < 0.005) in CD3+/CD8- cells were significantly higher in women with multiple IVF failures without SAB as compared with those of controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dominant Th1 immune responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes may reflect the systemic contribution of Th1 cytokines to RSA or multiple implantation failures in IVF cycles.