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Background Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is secreted by the granulosa cells of growing follicles during the primary to large antral follicle stages. Abnormal levels of AMH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) may indicate a woman’s diminished ability or inability to conceive. Our aim is to investigate the changes in serum AMH and FSH concentrations at different age groups and its correlation with ovarian reserves in infertile women. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed serum AMH and FSH levels from 197 infertile women and 176 healthy controls, whose mean ages were 19-47 years. Sample collection was performed by random sampling and analyzed with SPSS version 16 software. Results There were significantly lower mean serum AMH levels among infertile women compared to the control group. The mean AMH serum levels from different ages of infertile and control group (fertile women) decreased with increasing age. However, this reduction was greater in the infertile group. The mean FSH serum levels of infertile women were significantly higher than the control group. Mean serum FSH levels consistently increased with increasing age in infertile women; however mean luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were not consistent. Conclusion We have observed increased FSH levels and decreased AMH levels with increasing age in women from 19 to 47 years of age. Assessments of AMH and FSH levels in combination with female age can help in predicting ovarian reserve in infertile women.

Heat stress is a major environmental factor contributing to lower production of poultry. The objective of present study was to evaluate the influence of constant or intermittent high temperature on the production performance and redox status of plasma and hypothalamus in laying ducks. A total of 288 weight- and laying-matched laying ducks were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (each with 6 replicates of 12 birds): control, pairfed, constant high temperature (24 h, 34 ± 1°C), and intermittent high temperature (10 h, 34 ± 1°C). Blood and hypothalamic tissue samples were collected on days 1, 21, and 55 to determine redox status. Average daily feed intake and egg weight was reduced (P < 0.001) during imposition of both high-temperature treatments but was not different (P > 0.05) among the treatments during the recovery period. Lower (P < 0.05) egg mass was observed in pair-fed and intermittent high-temperature treatment during high-temperature period and in constant high temperature during the recovery period. Haugh units from high temperature-treated ducks were significantly lower than those from control or pair-fed ducks (P < 0.05) during the high-temperature period. Both models of heat exposure decreased plasma concentrations of glutathione (GSH) at day 1, and constant high temperature decreased plasma activity of GSH peroxidase (GSH-PX) at day 21 (P < 0.05). Hypothalamic expression of antioxidant genes GSH reductase (GR) and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit (Complex I) were decreased by both high-temperature treatments at day 1. Hypothalamic expression of genes for pro-oxidant enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX- 2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) were decreased (P < 0.05) by both models of high temperature but transcripts of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) of ducks that were pair-fed or were exposed to constant high temperature were increased at day 21. The transcripts of NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX-1) were decreased at day 1 by both high-temperature treatments (P < 0.05) but increased during the recovery period. These results indicate that, for laying ducks, intermittent high temperature caused much greater negative production performance effects than constant high temperature during high-temperature period, but laying ducks exposed to constant high temperature tend to take longer to recover their production performance. High-temperature stress, either constant or intermittent, altered hypothalamic expression of antioxidation and pro-oxidation genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

En el presente artículo se aspira a resumir los principales elementos de la controversia historiográfica acerca del significado de “Spinozismo” como categoría de la Ilustración del siglo XVIII y de la validez o no del concepto de “Ilustración Radical”, así como la relación entre ambas categorías. Al definir la “Ilustración Radical” como el rechazo filosófico de la autoridad religiosa, en combinación con un sistema de pensamiento social y político que propende a la democracia, y como una tradición en parte clandestina desarrollada en oposición a la corriente principal de la Ilustración, más moderada, el texto pretende bosquejar en sus rasgos distintivos tanto la “crítica negativa”, fuertemente opuesta a ese modo de entender la Ilustración Occidental, como la “crítica positiva”, que la acepta ampliamente.

Background The objective of our study was to identify the correlations between the tests currently used in ovarian reserve assessment: anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and antral follicle count (AFC) and to distinguish the most reliable markers for ovarian reserve in order to select an adequate strategy for the initial stages of infertility treatment. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, 112 infertile women were assessed. Subjects were divided into three age groups: group I

Intrahepatic cholestasis is a kind of clinical syndrome along with hepatotoxicity which caused by intrahepatic and systemic accumulations of bile acid. There are several crucial generating factors of the pathogenesis of cholestasis, such as inflammation, dysregulation of bile acid transporters and oxidative stress. SIRT1 is regarded as a class III histone deacetylase (HDAC). According to a set of researches, SIRT1 is one of the most important factors which can regulate the hepatic bile acid metabolism. SRT1720 is a kind of activator of SIRT1 which is 1000 times more potent than resveratrol, and this paper is aimed to study its protective influence on hepatotoxicity and cholestasis induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) in mice. The findings revealed that SRT1720 treatment increased FXR and Nrf2 gene expressions to shield against hepatotoxicity and cholestasis induced by ANIT. The mRNA levels of hepatic bile acid transporters were also altered by SRT1720. Furthermore, SRT1720 enhanced the antioxidative system by increasing Nrf2, SOD, GCLc, GCLm, Nqo1, and HO-1 gene expressions. In conclusion, a protective influence could be provided by SRT1720 to cure ANIT-induced hepatotoxicity and cholestasis, which was partly through FXR and Nrf2 activations. These results indicated that SIRT1 could be regarded as a therapeutic target to cure the cholestasis.

This study aimed to examine the value of anti peptidylarginine deiminase (anti-PADI-4) antibody and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody among Iraqi patients with RA and to determine whether the activity and severity in RA patients are associated with anti-PADI- 4 and anti-CCP antibodies positivity. In a case control study, we determined the seropositivity of these two serological markers anti- PADI-4 and anti-CCP antibodies in100 RA patients and 100 healthy controls subject. Activity of disease was measured by disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS 28) and severity was assessed using Scott modification of the Larsen method. Antibodies to PADI-4 were detected in (32%) among RA patients and present (1%) in controls (p < 0.001). Anti-CCP was present in (74%) of the RA patients and present in 2% in controls (p < 0.001), sensitivity was highest for anti-CCP antibody (74%) followed by anti-PADI-4 antibody (32%). Specificity was highest for anti-PADI-4 antibody (99%) followed by anti-CCP antibody (98%). A significant correlation with disease activity was observed in both markers, RA patients on remission had negative PADI-4 test (0/12) but patients with high disease activity showed higher percentage (86.4%) of PADI-4 seropositivity in compared to anti-CCP where patients on remission had (8.3%) seropositivity and RA patients with high disease activity had (91%) anti- CCP seropositivity. However, seropostivity to PADI-4 was significant correlated with RA severity (p < 0.001) as evaluated by scott grade (59.3%) in grade 5. Similarly, there were a significant correlation between anti-CCP seropositivity and radiological finding but less than that associated with seropositivity to PADI-4 antibody (p < 0.05). In conclusion, with their excellent specificity, both anti-PADI-4 and anti-CCP antibodies can be useful in establishing the diagnosis of RA, also both markers are good predictors of disease activity and severity.

The article deals with the double significance of term memory: the memory of the past and the capacity of remembering. Recently, the study o f memory greatly improved in animals, in which it has been demonstrated that short and long term memory correspond to functional and anatomical modifications of synapses respectively. In man its evaluation is still based on criteria emerged from the anatomo-clinical correlations of the past two centuries. Memory, together with conscience and lived experience, is a trilogy that composes the personal identity. The memory o f the fascist period in Italy, from its triumph to the end of the war with the anti-fascist opposing culture and the Resistance, includes the vicissitudes o f Giuseppe Levi and his entourage. It is analyzed with the criteria contained in a recently published book in order to explain or to stop the fading to day o f this sad period o f Italian history. The disappearance o f individual memories, with their existential charge, and the manipulations of the collective memory are mainly responsible for similar phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies like rheumatoid factor (RF). In the last few years, several other autoantibodies have been described of which anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody is the most specific. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has extrahepaticautoimmune properties and a variety of autoantibodies were found in patients with HCV. This study is conductedto evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Anti-CCP in compare with RF in RA patients and assess their association with severity of the disease and evaluate if HCV have beenone of the infectious agent for rheumatoid arthritis.Sixty blood samples were collected from RA patients and twenty from both apparently healthy group and HCV patients. The serum from each subject was tested for anti- CCP, RF and anti HCV by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Estimation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by Westergreen' method was included in this study. The result indicated that anti-CCP postivity for RA patients sera (78.3%), (20%) for HCV patients and (0.0%) for healthy group, it showed highly significant differences in RA group in compare with control group (P

Anti-predator defences are varied and widespread in nature. One little-studied form of anti-predator defence involves exuberant visible polymorphisms, where high numbers of morphs are present within a population. We present a model to explore the impact of indirect interactions, via common predators, between sympatric populations of two prey species that share similar morphs. We show that negative frequency-dependent selection by predators leads to a greater divergence of morph frequencies between populations in sympatry than in allopatry. Thus, in sympatry, a morph that is common in one species tends to be rare in the other. We further parameterize the model to approximate thrushes predating populations of the visibly polymorphic land snails Cepaea nemoralis and C. hortensis, the classical system that first prompted Bryan Clarke to suggest that sight-hunting predators can produce divergence of morph frequencies in sympatry. Our general results suggest that variation in predator ranges over different prey populations is likely to have implications for a number of anti-predator traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the Russian practice of suppressing non-traditional religious associations under the guise of protecting national security. Russian legislation and case law are discussed in light of European standards concerning limitations of human rights, including the principles of legal certainty and proportionality. The author concludes that despite the declaration of the principle of ideological diversity and religious freedom in the Constitution of the Russian Federation (hereinafter, "the rf Constitution"), Russian lawmakers and the judiciary are wary of non-traditional religions, regarding them as a national security threat. This tendency is demonstrated by an analysis of registration requirements, as well as the country's anti-extremism law and the relevant case law. The author examines the following problems of Russian regulation: the vagueness of the law on which the limitations are based and the weak argumentation of judicial decisions by which limitations are imposed. The author concludes that Russian legislation and the relevant case law strongly deviate from the standards set in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Meanwhile, according to the RF Constitution, the ECHR is part of the Russian legal system and prevails over Russian laws. The author's aim is to outline the space provided in Russian law for the abuse of non-traditional religions by Russian authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carriers of the human leucocyte antigen variant HLADQA1*05 (rs2097432) are at risk of developing antibodies against infliximab and adalimumab with reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist persistence. The impact of proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (PTDM) on this association has been barely assessed., Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study including patients with inflammatory bowel disease starting anti-TNF therapy between January 2017 and March 2021. Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring was defined as periodic drug level measurement (≥2 determinations during the first year of treatment and ≥1/annual determination during the following years), regardless of clinical condition, followed by dose optimization. Variables associated with treatment persistence were assessed with multivariable Cox regression analysis., Results: A total of 112 patients were included, 52 (46.4%) HLA-DQA1*05 carriers, with a median follow-up of 73.9 (interquartile range, 35.4-133.1) weeks. Combination therapy with thiopurines was more frequent among HLA-DQA1*05 noncarriers (28 [46.7%] vs 12 [23.1%]; P = .01). Clinical remission rates at week 14 (77.9% vs 73.9%; P = .69) and 56 (73.2% vs 68.4%; P = .64) were similar between HLA-DQA1*05 noncarriers and carriers. Drug persistence was higher among HLA-DQA1*05 carriers (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.71; P = .01). Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified systemic steroids at anti-TNF initiation (HR, 4; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-9.7) as a risk factor and HLA-DQA1*05 carriers (HR, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.81) as a protective factor of treatment cessation., Conclusion: In adult patients with PTDM, a positive HLA-DQA1*05 genotype does not associate a higher risk of treatment cessation nor worse clinical outcomes., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Citrullinated proteins have been discovered in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis but not in other forms of joint disease. The citrullinated proteins in the joints correspond to the presence of the citrulline antibodies in the blood and suggest a possible role for these antibodies in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The present study assessed the recent diagnostic value of anti-cyclic citrullinated antibodies (CCP) compared with rheumatoid factor (RF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. One hundred blood samples were collected from RA patients and thirty from apparently healthy group. Sera from each subject were tested for anti- CCP and RF by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The majority of patients were females (84%), with a female: male ratio 5.2:1. The results indicated that anti-CCP postivity for RA patients was (69%) when compared with the healthy group (0.0%), which was highly significant in RA in comparison with control groups (P

Background: Immune-mediated recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has received more attention than any other single etiologic classification. Individuals with rare blood group P have an antipp1pk antibody in their serum, which causes recurrent abortion in the early stages. Materials and Methods: In this case series study, 11 patients with unexplained RPL who had anti-P antibody in their serum were treated by plasma exchange during their next pregnancies. To evaluate the efficacy of the treatment, we monitored fetal development using ultrasonography and intensive prenatal care. All calculations were performed with the SPSS version 16. Results: All patients who were treated by plasma exchange progressed to live birth. The mean gestational age at the time of termination was 37.5 ± 0.69 weeks. The mean weight of the newborns was 2729.09 ± 389.88 g. None of the newborns required exchange transfusion. Conclusion: P-incompatibility is one rare but important cause of unexplained RPL and also a basis for therapeutic intervention via early antibody removal by plasma exchange.

Este artículo explica y defiende una interpretación crítica del origen epistemológico de las principales operaciones geográficas que elaboró José Carlos Mariátegui (1894-1930), reconociendo su contexto histórico particular y las condiciones de la geografía de la época. Más allá de las escasas referencias que abordan perspectivas geográficas dentro del pensamiento de Mariátegui (Ruiz, 2003; Méndez, 2016; Sanjinés, 2009), se enfatiza situar este objeto a partir de la disputa por la modernidad y el proyecto político-intelectual que encarnó el pensador peruano. Lejos del inventario de regiones naturales o históricas, legitimadas en el positivismo y el nacionalismo republicano, Mariátegui recreó a la geografía a partir de las prácticas sociales e históricas de la realidad peruana. Es decir, sus fuentes y direcciones geográficas son sacudidas y transformadas a partir de un proceso categorial más amplio que se vincula a su propia trayectoria política y analítica: el rechazo tajante al positivismo como única forma válida de conocimiento y la construcción de un socialismo antiimperialista que se organiza en la propia realidad peruana. Implícitamente, así, Mariátegui proyectó una modernidad alternativa que significó reincorporar el problema de la subjetividad a la comprensión de la realidad geográfica y abrir una geografía en diálogo con un proyecto político socialista fundamentado en las diferencias geográficas o provinciales (Flores Galindo, 1980). Esto implicó, entre otras cosas, que el espacio y el tiempo en Mariátegui son siempre posibilidades abiertas a la política y a la imaginación (Germaná, 1994). He aquí una fuente significativa de sus influencias geográficas

Mechanical Anti-erosive Barrier increases Colonization of Fixed Sand Dune by Plant Species. South-Eastern Niger is subject to wind erosion. In the region of Gouré, the oasis basins are the main source of agricultural production and incomes. But these are threatened to disappear because of the phenomenon of sanding up. Many sand dune fixation methods were tested without any substantial results. In this work, a mechanical antierosive barrier, made of Leptadenia pyrotechnica branches, was used to test its effectiveness for soil erosion control and plant restoration. Three years after the implementation of this barrier, the treated areas were colonised by spontaneous vegetation made up of 58 plant species belonging to 20 families including 17 perennials, i.e. 42 additional species more than in the untreated areas. Over the years, the floristic composition has gradually stabilised, reflecting a significant reduction of environmental disturbances caused by wind.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab (Herceptin®, Roche) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Some patients remain in remission for many years. However, there are no prognostic markers associated with long-term survival. This study aimed to analyse treatment patterns of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer at a single institution and explore prognostic factors for long-term survival after HER2-targeted treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer receiving first-line treatment with HER2-targeted therapy between 2004 and 2014 at the University Hospital of Zurich (n = 81). Overall survival (OS) and other time-to-event endpoints were determined with Kaplan-Meier curves and clinicopathological factors predicting long-term outcome were identified by use of the log-rank test. RESULTS: The median OS for the cohort was 5.9 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–8.3). Twenty patients (28.6%) remained in complete remission after 1 year, 11 (15.7%) after 2 years and 4 (5.7%) beyond 5 years. The median progression-free survival was 13.6 months (95% CI 9.0–18.3). The objective response rate (ORR) was 60.5% with 16 (19.8%) complete responses and 33 (40.8%) partial responses. Six (7.4%) patients had brain metastases as first site of relapse and they had a median OS of 1.9 years (95% CI 1.7–2.2 years). Thirty-four of all 81 patients (42%) had developed brain metastases by the time of death or last follow-up. Median OS after diagnosis of brain metastases was 26 months (95% CI 19.9–32.0). Only primary brain metastases were found to be a prognostic marker associated with shorter overall survival. Hormone-receptor status and presence of visceral metastases at primary diagnosis were not associated with prognosis. Only four patients (4.9%) developed some degree of left ventricular dysfunction under treatment with trastuzumab. CONCLUSIONS: HER2-targeted treatment has improved the overall survival of patients with HER2-postive metastatic breast cancer with median OS exceeding 5 years. There are, however, no predictive markers for a long-term survival. Only the absence of primary brain metastases seems to be an indicator of a good prognosis. Clinical trial number: SNCTP000001431

This study aimed to determine the level of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP), glutathione (GSH), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in sera of the patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and healthy subjects to examine their possible role in this disease. Thirty patients in MS were included for evaluation of serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP), glutathione (GSH), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and they compared with thirty normal healthy subjects. Results revealed that the serum levels of GSH and Cu were highly significant lower in MS patients than in healthy control group p< 0.005. The mean serum levels of Zn for both groups were significantly decrease p< 0.04, but the mean serum levels of ACCP in both groups were no significantly decrease p > 0.201.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how the consolidation of Anti-Masonic narrative in Brazil occurred from the episode known as "Religious Question". In this sense, huge volumes of texts were produced against Freemasonry around the world. Also, we can see that the presence of the Roman condemnation of Masonery was elemental in the transformations present in the analyzed texts.

In this paper, a unipolar single-slope integrating analog-to-digitalconverter(ADC) is discussed, designed, and simulated, whereas, its conversiontime is less than that of the dual-slope integrating ADC.The proposed systemconsists of logarithmic amplifier,anti-logarithmic amplifier, integrator, counter,control logic unit and two timers stages.The proposed design characterizes some of significant properties whichmake it distinguished from the other previous designed systems, such as, it hasgood noise immunity because of passing of the analog input signal through theintegrator circuit which it considered as a low pass filter. This system is capableto convert an analog voltage of range of (0.0 – 0.6) volt using non-linearamplifiers. At last, this system has very good forward linearity relation between theoutput digital number and the analog input voltage value which is realized later bytheoretical calculation and simulation results.This system is simulated and tested using software package ElectronicWorkbench version V9, and one can see that simulation results approach to thetheoretical results, so for this reason, this system possesses acceptable design andperformance.

The Catholic Church began its long history of public condemnation of Freemasonry on April 28 th , 1738, when Pope Clement XII (1730-1740) interdicted Catholics from becoming members of Masonic lodges, through the bull In Eminenti Apostolatus Specula , which pointed out the incompatibility between the vow and secrecy of Masonic obedience and the condition of Christianity in the Roman Catholic Church. The announcement of September 28 th , 1738, published in convents and parishes of the kingdom and empire, summarizes the role of the Portuguese Inquisition, in which Catholics living in Portugal were admonished to confess and denounce to the Holy Office the existence of Masonic meetings. The Inqu isition also prohibited the participation of Catholics in freemasonry meetings, and ordered bishops, prelates and inquisitors to identify the offenders. Despite these historical facts, this paper intends to show that ther e are records of the involvem ent of Catholic priests and bishops in portuguese Freemasonary since the mid eighteenth century.

This article examines the relationship between the two Lula administrations and indigenous and afro-descendant populations, considering two horizons of analysis, the insertion of Lula administrations in Brazilian nation building and its role for implementing rights established by the Constitution of 1988. From the ideological perspective, the article sustains that Lula's administrations have clearly broken with the mestizaje discourse. Politically, Lula administrations have taken important efforts for implementing constitutional rights concerning equality and cultural diversity. However, advances in anti-racist politics are more evident than in the field of protection of indigenous rights. Often, indigenous issues - and above all their territorial rights - clashed with economic and political interests accommodated in the government and its parliamentary support causing moderation in Lula's position.

Ten years after the protests in Seattle in 1999, this article aims to conduct an evaluation of the anti-globalization movement. Our hypothesis is that during those years, the ntiglobalization movement has shown an important ability to organize, mobilize and infl uence in the international scene, and that it is currently living a stage of crisis as an actor, but with a large part of its legacy having being made into a new framework for transnational collective action. Thus, this paper presents the movement and its features, including a brief terminological and conceptual discussion; an explanation about its origins, reviewing the main cycles and agendas; a study of the fi rst signs of exhaustion of the anti-globalization movement, and the arguments that, beyond the movement´s crisis, there is also a conceptualcrisis in order to explain the new transnational activism; and, fi nally, a refl ection on some of the challenges faced by global movements nowadays.

Background: The lack of murine glioblastoma models that mimic the immunobiology of human disease has impeded basic and translational immunology research. We, therefore, developed murine glioblastoma stem cell lines derived from Nestin-CreERT2QkL/L; Trp53L/L; PtenL/L (QPP) mice driven by clinically relevant genetic mutations common in human glioblastoma. This study aims to determine the immune sensitivities of these QPP lines in immunocompetent hosts and their underlying mechanisms., Methods: The differential responsiveness of QPP lines was assessed in the brain and flank in untreated, anti-PD-1, or anti-CTLA-4 treated mice. The impact of genomic landscape on the responsiveness of each tumor was measured through whole exome sequencing. The immune microenvironments of sensitive (QPP7) versus resistant (QPP8) lines were compared in the brain using flow cytometry. Drivers of flank sensitivity versus brain resistance were also measured for QPP8., Results: QPP lines are syngeneic to C57BL/6J mice and demonstrate varied sensitivities to T cell immune checkpoint blockade ranging from curative responses to complete resistance. Infiltrating tumor immune analysis of QPP8 reveals improved T cell fitness and augmented effector-to-suppressor ratios when implanted subcutaneously (sensitive), which are absent on implantation in the brain (resistant). Upregulation of PD-L1 across the myeloid stroma acts to establish this state of immune privilege in the brain. In contrast, QPP7 responds to checkpoint immunotherapy even in the brain likely resulting from its elevated neoantigen burden., Conclusions: These syngeneic QPP models of glioblastoma demonstrate clinically relevant profiles of immunotherapeutic sensitivity and potential utility for both mechanistic discovery and evaluation of immune therapies., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Real-life data on the efficacy of ustekinumab as first-line therapy for the treatment of luminal Crohn's disease (CD) compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are lacking. We compared the clinical response rates at 3 months in 2 cohorts of biologic-naïve patients treated by ustekinumab and anti-TNF agents., Methods: Biologic-naïve patients starting either ustekinumab or an anti-TNF agent for luminal CD between 2016 and 2019 in 2 tertiary centers were retrospectively included. The primary endpoint was clinical response at 3 months, defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw Index <4 or a 3-point drop in the score without steroids, need for CD-related surgery, or treatment discontinuation owing to failure or intolerance. Patients treated with ustekinumab were matched to patients receiving anti-TNF agents by a propensity score algorithm., Results: We included 156 patients starting anti-TNF agents (95 adalimumab and 61 infliximab) and 50 ustekinumab. After matching, clinical response rates at 3 months were 64% and 86% in the ustekinumab and anti-TNF groups, respectively (P = .01). At 12 months, in multivariate analysis adjusted for disease duration, location, concomitant immunosuppressant and steroids, and symptoms, clinical remission was independently associated with the biological therapy received (odds ratio, 2.6 for anti-TNF agent vs ustekinumab; P = .02). With a median follow-up duration of 40 (interquartile range, 23-52) months, no difference was observed in terms of time to drug withdrawal (P = .29) or safety., Conclusions: This retrospective real-world data suggest that an anti-TNF agent as a first-line biological therapy is associated with higher rates of response at 3 months than ustekinumab in patients with CD., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

It examines the implications of neoliberalism to social policies and for the family. It addresses the family in the process of building the policies of Social Assistance and Anti-drug in the current context of neoliberal policies, problematized the meaning of the importance of family in today's context, from official documents of these public policies.

Aloperine is an alkaloid that exerts significant inhibitive effects on acute inflammation and Type III and IV hypersensitivity caused by a variety of inflammatory agents. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the protective effect of aloperine attenuates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury, and to identify the underlying mechanisms involved. Nucleus pulposus cells were extracted from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, and incubated with fresh medium containing 200 μM H2O2 for 24 h. In the study, treatment with aloperine significantly increased cell viability and suppressed apoptosis in H2O2-treated nucleus pulposus cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 10 and 100 nM aloperine significantly inhibited H2O2-induced tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 activities, and significantly increased the H2O2-reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in nucleus pulposus cells (all P<0.01). However, aloperine treatment (10 and 100 nM) significantly reduced the H2O2-induced caspase-9 activity in nucleus pulposus cells. Furthermore, addition of 10 and 100 nM aloperine significantly suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and phosphorylated-protein kinase B expression levels in H2O2-treated nucleus pulposus cells. In conclusion, the protective effect of aloperine attenuated H2O2-induced injury via hyperproliferation, its anti-apoptotic activity and suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced photosensitivity reactions are significant adverse effects. Ketoprofen is one of the most common drugs that can cause skin rash in sun-exposed areas. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ketoprofen, are often used for a variety of symptoms, including pain and fever. An understanding of the presentation and clinical course of ketoprofen-induced photosensitivity is necessary to correctly diagnose and manage this condition. Ketoprofen-induced photosensitivity reactions usually present as photoallergic dermatitis, which is a cell-mediated immune process. The benzophenone moiety in ketoprofen plays a major role in ketoprofen's ability to act as a photosensitizer. Several agents, such as fenofibrate and octocrylene have been found to be associated with aggravation of ketoprofen-induced photoallergic dermatitis or cross-photosensitization, and these reactions result from structural similarities with ketoprofen. Treatment of ketoprofen-induced photoallergic dermatitis includes discontinuation of ketoprofen, topical or systemic corticosteroids and avoidance of sun exposure and agents known to exacerbate dermatitis. In conclusion, photoallergic dermatitis is a significant adverse effect of ketoprofen. Some agents known to worsen dermatitis may be found in sun protection products (notably, octocrylene in sunscreen). Educating the patient to avoid these products is critical to treatment. Since NSAIDs, such as ketoprofen, are used commonly for a variety of illnesses, drug-induced photoallergic dermatitis should be high on the differential in individuals using these medications who present with acute onset of a rash in sun-exposed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathway by the FDA-approved drug rapamycin promotes life span in numerous model organisms and delays age-related disease in mice. However, the utilization of rapamycin as a therapy for age-related diseases will likely prove challenging due to the serious metabolic and immunological side effects of rapamycin in humans. We recently identified an intermittent rapamycin treatment regimen-2mg/kg administered every 5 days-with a reduced impact on glucose homeostasis and the immune system as compared with chronic treatment; however, the ability of this regimen to extend life span has not been determined. Here, we report for the first time that an intermittent rapamycin treatment regimen starting as late as 20 months of age can extend the life span of female C57BL/6J mice. Our work demonstrates that the anti-aging potential of rapamycin is separable from many of its negative side effects and suggests that carefully designed dosing regimens may permit the safer use of rapamycin and its analogs for the treatment of age-related diseases in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presentación de una paciente con artritis reumatoide severa en tratamiento con inhibidores del Factor de Necrosis Tumoral (Anti-TNF), quien presenta además un cuadro de tuberculosis pulmonar. La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica de las articulaciones, que afecta en un inicio la membrana sinovial, pero que si no es tratada oportunamente lleva a daño estructural irreversible del sistema músculo-esquelético y eventualmente de otros sistemas orgánicos. Dentro de los criterios de la American College of Rheumatology se incluyen la Rigidez Matutina, Artritis de 3 o más articulaciones, Artritis simétrica, Nódulos reumáticos, Factor Reumatoideo y hallazgos radiográficos. Dentro de la patogenia de esta enfermedad, el Factor de Necrosis Tumoral es una citocina que juega un papel importante, una producción elevada de TNF-α se ha encontrado en la sinovial de estos pacientes, y por su capacidad de inducir la producción de otras citocinas, como IL-6, IL-17, GM-CSF, M-CSF, e incluso IL-1 y TNF-α (función autócrina), parecería que el TNF-α ejerce una acción jerárquica dentro de la llamada red de citocinas y una inhibición de su acción da como resultado un beneficio terapéutico en los pacientes con AR. Sin embargo, es conocido que la infección concurrente más frecuentemente informada con el uso de agentes biológicos (Anti-TNF) es la TB, y la incidencia de ésta se ha incrementado desde el advenimiento de la terapia biológica. Por tanto, la descripción de este caso no corresponde a un hecho médico aislado, sino a una problemática actual y real. Este es el primer caso que se reporta en la Costa Caribe.

The article intends to demonstrate the importance of the social, economical, political and cultural processes that the word globalization seems to designate, but first it sketches a critique of the ideological use of that word. It discusses some movements that are critical of the hegemonic globalization. Although they are still not able to implement "another globalization", they certainly can indicate many causes of the suffering of humankind and the planet.

Este artículo expone algunos elementos de la discusión actual en la filosofía política entre el liberalismo igualitarista y el anti-igualitarismo. En la primera parte se discute la tesis libertariana que afirma que la justicia social no puede ser el fundamento de justificación del Estado. En la segunda parte se argumenta en favor de un modelo de justicia social en el que se propone la prioridad de los imperativos de equidad social sobre la libertad