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There are persistent disparities in stomach cancer mortality among racial–ethnic groups in the USA, but the extent to which these patterns vary geographically is not well understood. This analysis estimated age-standardised mortality for five racial–ethnic groups, in 3110 USA counties over 20 years, to describe spatial-temporal variations in stomach cancer mortality and disparities between racial–ethnic groups.

Large disparities in mortality exist across racial–ethnic groups and by location in the USA, but the extent to which racial–ethnic disparities vary by location, or how these patterns vary by cause of death, is not well understood. We aimed to estimate age-standardised mortality by racial–ethnic group, county, and cause of death and describe the intersection between racial–ethnic and place-based disparities in mortality in the USA, comparing patterns across health conditions.

AbstractThe maple leafcutter moth (Paraclemensia acerifoliella(Fitch) (Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae) has been discovered in western Canada, feeding on saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia(Nuttall) Nuttall ex Roemer (Rosaceae)), a previously undocumented host. New records are detailed, and historical records are reviewed and assessed. Western populations are compared morphologically, genetically, and ecologically to populations feeding on maple (AcerLinnaeus; Sapindaceae) in eastern Canada. ParaclemensiaBusck species host plants are discussed in relation to the hypothesised phylogenetic history of the genus. Although maple feeding is hypothesised to be the ancestral condition in the genus Paraclemensia, Rosaceae feeding (including Amelanchier) is hypothesised to be a derived capability of the P. acerifoliellaspecies group.

There are large and persistent disparities in life expectancy among racial–ethnic groups in the USA, but the extent to which these patterns vary geographically on a local scale is not well understood. This analysis estimated life expectancy for five racial–ethnic groups, in 3110 US counties over 20 years, to describe spatial–temporal variations in life expectancy and disparities between racial–ethnic groups.

The concept of cancer stem cells responsible for tumour origin, maintenance, and resistance to treatment has gained prominence in the field of breast cancer research. The therapeutic targeting of these cells has the potential to eliminate residual disease and may become an important component of a multimodality treatment. Recent improvements in immunotherapy targeting of tumour-associated antigens have advanced the prospect of targeting breast cancer stem cells, an approach that might lead to more meaningful clinical remissions. Here, we review the role of stem cells in the healthy breast, the role of breast cancer stem cells in disease, and the potential to target these cells.

Novel adjuvant therapies are urgently needed to complement the existing treatment options for breast cancer. The advent of the use of dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer immunotherapy provides a unique opportunity to overcome the relative non-immunogenic property of breast tumours and address the underlying immunodeficiency. To date, the success of this approach has been limited, possibly due to the targeting of specific tumour antigens that rapidly mutate and, thus, become undetectable to the immune system. A more efficient approach would include preparations encompassing multiple antigens, such as those provided by loading of whole tumour cells or tumour RNA. It is proposed that targeting mammary stem cells responsible for resistance to chemo/immunotherapy, through the expression of a broad array of wild-type and mutated tumour antigens in the context of DCs, will become a mainstay for immunotherapy of breast cancer.

AbstractThe potential of leisure to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives is often discussed. For example, it has been noted that leisure can enhance a person’s self-concept and how they feel about themselves and it can contribute to a person’s physical health, sense of well-being and perceptions of quality of life. Research has also identified a spiritual dimension (defining oneself, experiencing wholeness, gaining a sense of connection, and transcendence) as a benefit of leisure. Further, it has also been suggested that leisure may hold a key for people’s free expression and exploration of truth, beauty and knowledge as leisure allows people the opportunity to explore what it means to be fully human.To better understand some of these possibilities I undertook a phenomenological study into the nature of the lived experiences of leisure that individuals considered spiritual. Twenty-four participants shared their self-identified spiritual leisure experiences through unstructured interviews. The findings suggested that leisure was a valuable and edifying aspect of these people’s lives in relation to developing their spiritual self and experiencing their spirituality. More broadly the results remind us of the potential of leisure to be a space in people’s lives where they can experience self, grow, and actualise more of who they are.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that play an essential role in initiating and directing cellular and humoral immunity, including anti-tumor responses. Due to their critical role in cancer, induction of DC apoptosis may be one of the central mechanisms used by tumors to evade immune recognition. Spontaneous apoptosis of blood DCs (lineage negative HLA-DR positive cells) was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using Annexin-V and TUNEL assays immediately after blood collection. The role of tumor products was assessed by culturing cells with supernatants derived from breast cancer cell lines (TDSN) or PBMCs (PBMC-SN, as a control). The capacity of DC stimulation to prevent apoptosis was assessed by incubating DC with inflammatory cytokines, poly I:C, IL-12 or CD40 ligand (CD40L) prior to culture with TDSN. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and microscopy, and Bcl-2 expression determined by intracellular staining. In this study we document the presence of a significantly higher proportion of apoptotic (Annexin-V+and TUNEL+) blood DCs in patients with early stage breast cancer (stage I to II; n = 13) compared to healthy volunteers (n = 15). We examined the role of tumor products in this phenomenon and show that supernatants derived from breast cancer lines induce apoptosis of blood DCs in PBMC cultures. Aiming to identify factors that protect blood DC from apoptosis, we compared a range of clinically available maturation stimuli, including inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and prostaglandin (PG)E2as a cytokine cocktail), synthetic double-stranded RNA (poly I:C) and soluble CD40 ligand. Although inflammatory cytokines and poly I:C induced robust phenotypic maturation, they failed to protect blood DCs from apoptosis. In contrast, CD40 stimulation induced strong antigen uptake, secretion of IL-12 and protected blood DCs from apoptosis through sustained expression of Bcl-2. Exogenous IL-12 provided similar Bcl-2 mediated protection, suggesting that CD40L effect is mediated, at least in part, through IL-12 secretion. Cumulatively, our results demonstrate spontaneous apoptosis of blood DCs in patients with breast cancer and confirm that ex vivoconditioning of blood DCs can protect them from tumor-induced apoptosis.

Presents an interview with drag queen Mona Foot about her return after a partial retirement. Career highlights; Information on her show "Faggot Feud"; Reasons for Foot's partial retirement; Origin of her name.

Highlights the success of gay design duo Richie Rich and Traver Rains with their Heatherette clothing line. Origin of the duo's relationship; Genesis of their clothing business; Target market of Heatherette; Highlights of their 2003 runway fashion show in New York.

Profiles transsexual recording artist Amanda Lepore. Her music album releases; Show schedules of Lepore; Details on her sex change efforts through cosmetic surgeries.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which play a vital role in primary immune responses. Introducing genes into DCs will allow constitutive expression of the encoded proteins and thus prolong the presentation of the antigens derived therefrom. In addition, multiple and unidentified epitopes encoded by the entire tumor-associated antigen (TAA) gene may enhance T cell activation. This study demonstrated that an HIV-1-based lentiviral vector conferred efficient gene transfer to DCs. The transgene, murine tyrosinase-related protein 2 (mTRP-2), encodes a clinically relevant melanoma-associated antigen (MAA), which has been found to be a tumor rejection antigen for B16 melanoma. The transfer and proper processing of mTRP-2 in DCs, in terms of RNA transcription activity and protein expression, were verified by RT-PCR and specific antibody, respectively. Administration of mTRP-2 gene-modified DCs (DC-HR′ CmT2) to C57BL/6 mice evoked strong protection against tumor challenge, for which the presence of CD4+ and CD8+ cells during both the priming and challenge phase was essential. In a therapy model, our results showed that four of seven mice with preestablished tumor remained tumor free for 80 days after therapeutic vaccination. Given the results shown in this study, mTRP-2 gene transfer to DCs provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of melanoma, especially in the early stage of the disease.

In patients undergoing immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma, the clinical response in immunotherapeutic trials may be partial or difficult to detect. Tumor metastasis biopsy allows direct characterisation of an antitumor immunological response. During a phase I/II trial of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) transduced autologous melanoma immunotherapy, the cellular response was examined by immunohistochemical analysis in a limited number of tumor biopsies taken from patients who either responded or progressed. Clinical response was associated with tumor infiltration by CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells, macro-phages and differentiated dendritic cells (DC), and expression of HLA-DR by the tumor cells. This tumor infiltration was associated with increased melanoma-specific peripheral blood precursor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (pCTL) and the ability to obtain tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in vitro. In contrast, progression or a lack of clinical response was associated with a lack of T-cell and DC infiltration into the tumor tissue in all such biopsies. Macrophages and eosinophils infiltrated these tumors, while T-cells and DC were present at some distance from the tumor. These preliminary data strongly suggest that the location and extent of T-cell and DC infiltration, as well as the expression of HLA-DR by tumor cells are associated with a clinical response in this form of melanoma immunotherapy.

Focuses on the career of makeup artist, art director and commentator of "America's Next Top Model (ANTM)," Jay Manuel. Details on how Manuel gained a career in fashion; Overview of the negative remarks on the orgy scene in the television show; Recognition Manuel got when he was exposed in ANTM; Explanation on why the television show has many gay fans. INSET: FOUR SCORED.

Interviews several gay men involved in the play 'The Last Sunday in June,' regarding the play and several issues related to homosexuality. Views on people who have reservations towards gay plays; Problems of gay couples; Opinion on monogamous and anonymous sex.

Overcoming dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction is a prerequisite for successful active immunotherapy against breast cancer. CD40 ligand (CD40L), a key molecule in the interface between T-lymphocytes and DCs, seems to be instrumental in achieving that goal. Commenting on our data that CD40L protects circulating DCs from apoptosis induced by breast tumor products, Lenahan and Avigan highlighted the potential of CD40L for immunotherapy. We expand on that argument by pointing to additional findings that CD40L not only rescues genuine DCs but also functionally improves populations of immature antigen-presenting cells that fill the DC compartment in patients with breast cancer.

Presents information on the photography exhibit by Israeli photographer Adi Nes at the Jack Shainman gallery in New York City in March 2003. Source of the photographs' homoeroticism; Features of the show; Role of Nes in the Israeli army; Description of homosexuality in Israel.

Introduction Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that play an essential role in initiating and directing cellular and humoral immunity, including anti-tumor responses. Due to their critical role in cancer, induction of DC apoptosis may be one of the central mechanisms used by tumors to evade immune recognition.Methods Spontaneous apoptosis of blood DCs (lineage negative HLA-DR positive cells) was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using Annexin-V and TUNEL assays immediately after blood collection. The role of tumor products was assessed by culturing cells with supernatants derived from breast cancer cell lines (TDSN) or PBMCs (PBMC-SN, as a control). The capacity of DC stimulation to prevent apoptosis was assessed by incubating DC with inflammatory cytokines, poly I:C, IL-12 or CD40 ligand (CD40L) prior to culture with TDSN. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and microscopy, and Bcl-2 expression determined by intracellular staining.Results In this study we document the presence of a significantly higher proportion of apoptotic (Annexin-V+ and TUNEL+) blood DCs in patients with early stage breast cancer (stage I to II; n = 13) compared to healthy volunteers (n = 15). We examined the role of tumor products in this phenomenon and show that supernatants derived from breast cancer lines induce apoptosis of blood DCs in PBMC cultures. Aiming to identify factors that protect blood DC from apoptosis, we compared a range of clinically available maturation stimuli, including inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and prostaglandin (PG)E2 as a cytokine cocktail), synthetic double-stranded RNA (poly I:C) and soluble CD40 ligand. Although inflammatory cytokines and poly I:C induced robust phenotypic maturation, they failed to protect blood DCs from apoptosis. In contrast, CD40 stimulation induced strong antigen uptake, secretion of IL-12 and protected blood DCs from apoptosis through sustained expression of Bcl-2. Exogenous IL-12 provided similar Bcl-2 mediated protection, suggesting that CD40L effect is mediated, at least in part, through IL-12 secretion.Conclusion Cumulatively, our results demonstrate spontaneous apoptosis of blood DCs in patients with breast cancer and confirm that ex vivo conditioning of blood DCs can protect them from tumor-induced apoptosis.

Provides information on the gay play "Bald Diva!," written by David Koteles and directed by Jason Jacobs, which opened February 14, 2004 in New York City. Features of the play; Comparison of the play to other gay plays.

Five healthy human leukocyte antigen-B8 (HLA-B8)-positive virus carriers were studied to investigate the CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to an HLA-B8-restricted peptide, RAKFKQLLQ, located in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immediate-early trans-activator protein, BZLF1. Of the 5 virus carriers, 4 were infected with type A and 1 with type B EBV. Using limitingdilution analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a high RAKFKQLLQ-specific CTLprecursor frequency was demonstrated after specific peptide or autologous lymphoblastoid cell line stimulation in both type A and type B EBV carriers. The RAKFKQLLQ-specific CTL precursor frequencies in all 5 persons were at least as dominant as those observed with two other EBV-associated, HLAB8- restricted latent epitopes, FLRGRAYGL and QAKWRLQTL. These findings show that healthy virus carriers maintain a high frequency of BZLF1-specific memory T cells, potentially to control virus spread from lytically infected cells.