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Contents Relatively molecular mass of Gn RH antigens is small and hence needs to couple to a large carrier molecule to enhance its immunogenicity. This study investigated whether hepatitis B surface antigen S ( HBsAg-S) gene can be used as an effective carrier molecule for developing Gn RH DNA immunocastration vaccine. Two copies of human Gn RH gene were fused with HBsAg-S gene for constructing a recombinant plasmid pVAX- HBsAg-S-2Gn RH that coded for 27 kDa target fusion protein. Ten male mice were divided into two equal groups, treatment and control. The vaccine (50 μg/mice) prepared in saline solution was injected into male mice at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the experiment. Vaccine's efficacy was evaluated in terms of Gn RH-specific IgG antibody response, plasma testosterone levels, testicular weight and extent of the testicular tissue damage. The specific anti-Gn RH antibody titre in vaccinated animals was significantly higher than in controls in only 4th week of immunization (p < 0.05). In addition, vaccinated animals showed lower testicular weight than those of the controls (p < 0.05). Spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in vaccinated animals was suppressed. In conclusion, in this study, the engineered plasmid to be used as a Gn RH DNA vaccine induced antibody response and suppressed spermatogenesis in mice. This suggests that HBsAg-S gene can be an effective carrier molecule for developing Gn RH DNA immunocastration vaccine when relatively molecular mass of the aimed antigens is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: To investigate whether thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) regulates the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells and to elucidate the mechanism., Method of Study: Primary human decidual γδ T cells were treated with TSLP only or TSLP combined with different signaling inhibitors (STAT3, STAT5, AKT, and ERK). The levels of signal transduction and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) tyrosine phosphorylation and caspase3 expression were determined using Western blot analysis, and the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry., Results: The proportions of γδ T cells in the peripheral circulation and in decidual CD3(+) cell population in women with normal pregnancy were higher than the proportions of γδ T cells in either non-pregnant control or miscarriage. Decidual γδ T cells co-expressed the TSLP receptors (TSLPR) and IL-7Rα, and the expression of TSLPR in decidual γδ T cells was higher than that in decidual CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. Treatment with TSLP significantly suppressed the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells and enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, STAT3, and not other inhibitors, completely abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect and expression of caspase3 in decidual γδ T cells induced by recombinant human TSLP., Conclusion: These results suggest that TSLP may down-regulate caspase3 expression through activation of the STAT3 pathway, thereby suppressing the apoptosis of decidual γδ T cells., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(15)H(17)NO(4)·H(2)O, contains two organic mol-ecules with marginal differences between them and two water molecules. The chromine rings in both mol-ecules are essentially planar, with maximum deviations of 0.012 (2) and 0.060 (2) Å. The five-membered cyclo-pentane rings adopt envelope conformations in both mol-ecules. In the crystal, the components are linked by N-H⋯O, O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, resulting in a three-dimensional network.

The five-membered ring of the title compound, C(11)H(9)ClF(3)N(3), is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.002 Å) and the phenyl-ene ring is aligned at 44.8 (1)°. The N atom of the amino substituent shows a pyramidal geometry and is a hydrogen-bond donor to a Cl atom and to a ring N atom, which together generate a layer motif.

We report the anesthetic management of a case of separation of craniopagus twins with unbalanced cross circulation and one twin with renal dysfunction. After intravenous induction, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane inhalation and propofol infusion. Twin A survived but Twin B died after the surgery. The anesthetic problems during the operation are discussed.