Retinoic acid inhibits dendritic cell differentiation driven by interleukin-4.

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) appears to affect Th1-Th2 differentiation and its effects on immune responses might also be mediated by dendritic cell (DC). Nonetheless, studies have been showing contradictory results since was observed either induction or inhibition of DC differentiation. Our aim was to investigate atRA action on human monocyte derived DC differentiation. For this purpose we tested pharmacological and physiological doses of atRA with or without cytokines. Cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry and function was investigated by phagocytosis and respiratory burst. DC, positive control group, was differentiated with GM-CSF and IL-4 and maturated with TNF-alpha. We demonstrated that atRA effects depend on the dose used as pharmacological doses inhibited expression of all phenotypic markers tested while a physiological dose caused cell differentiation. However, atRA combined or not with cytokines did not promote DC differentiation. In fact, atRA was detrimental on IL-4 property as a DC inductor.

Pityriasis versicolor circinata: isolation of Malassezia sympodialis - Case report.

The authors report a case of pityriasis versicolor circinata whose isolated etiologic agent was Malassezia sympodialis in a 34-year-old woman. The isolation and identification of Malassezia sympodialis were accomplished with modified Dixon's agar, and the molecular method used to confirm the species was polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP).

[Pityriasis versicolor: isolation and identification of the main species of Malassezia]. / Pitiríase versicolor: isolamento e identificação das principais espécies de Malassezia.

Species of the genus Malassezia isolated were: Malassezia sympodialis (16.66%), Malassezia furfur (12.50%), Malassezia globosa (11.45%), and Malassezia slooffiae (2.10%). Malassezia sympodialis predominated in the study. The species of Malassezia identified did not show correlation with clinical variants and with the distribution of pityriasis versicolor lesions in relation to areas of the body.

Evaluation of dendritic cell-tumor cell hybrid vaccine storage.

Clinical trials using dendritic cells (DCs) to treat cancer patients have generated promising results in recent years. However, even simple aspects of this therapy are still not well understood, including the storage and distribution of manufactured vaccines. These processes are essential and must be elucidated in order to reduce costs. We evaluated the effects of different storage conditions on vaccine functionality using mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Vaccine storage at 4°C for up to 72 h had no significant effect on vaccine activity. Shipping to distant places is possible, if vaccines are kept at 4°C and used up to 3 days after manufacture date.

Pitiríase versicolor circinada: isolamento de Malassezia sympodialis: relato de caso / Pityriasis versicolor circinata: isolation of Malassezia sympodialis: case report

Os autores descrevem caso de pitiríase versicolor circinada, cujo agente etiológico isolado foi Malassezia sympodialis em uma mulher de 34 anos. O isolamento e identificação da Malassezia sympodialis foi em ágar Dixon modificado e o método molecular para confirmação da espécie foi PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis).

The authors report a case of pityriasis versicolor circinata whose isolated etiologic agent was Malassezia sympodialis in a 34-year-old woman. The isolation and identification of Malassezia sympodialis were accomplished with modified Dixon's agar, and the molecular method used to confirm the species was polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP).

Pitiríase versicolor: isolamento e identificação das principais espécies de Malassezia / Pityriasis versicolor: isolation and identification of the main species

As espécies do gênero Malassezia isoladas foram: Malassezia sympodialis (16,66 por cento), Malassezia furfur (12,50 por cento), Malassezia globosa (11,45 por cento) e Malassezia slooffiae (2,10 por cento). A Malassezia sympodialis foi a espécie que predominou em nosso estudo. As espécies de Malassezia identificadas não mostraram correlação com as variantes clínicas e com a distribuição das lesões de pitiríase versicolor quanto às regiões do corpo.

Species of the genus Malassezia isolated were: Malassezia sympodialis (16.66 percent), Malassezia furfur (12.50 percent), Malassezia globosa (11.45 percent), and Malassezia slooffiae (2.10 percent). Malassezia sympodialis predominated in the study. The species of Malassezia identified did not show correlation with clinical variants and with the distribution of pityriasis versicolor lesions in relation to areas of the body.