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Abstract Determination of treatment response to immunotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a process which can take months. Detection of CD8+ T cell recruitment to the tumor with a noninvasive imaging modality such as positron emission tomography (PET) may allow for tumor characterization and early evaluation of therapeutic response to immunotherapy. In this study, we utilized 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody-PET to provide proof-of-concept to detect CD8+ T cell immune response to oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) M002 immunotherapy in a syngeneic GBM model. Immunocompetent mice (n = 16) were implanted intracranially with GSC005 GBM tumors, and treated with intratumoral injection of oHSV M002 or saline control. An additional non-tumor bearing cohort (n = 4) receiving oHSV M002 treatment was also evaluated. Mice were injected with 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody seven days post oHSV administration and imaged with a preclinical PET scanner. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was quantified. Ex vivo tissue analyses included autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. PET imaging showed significantly higher SUV in tumors which had been treated with M002 compared to those without M002 treatment (p = 0.0207) and the non-tumor bearing M002 treated group (p = 0.0021). Accumulation in target areas, especially the spleen, was significantly reduced by blocking with the non-labeled diabody (p

Pancreatic cancer remains difficult to treat mainly due to the drug delivery challenges posed by a strong stromal component. Here the authors develop nanocarriers that improve drug delivery efficiency and engage the host immune system against the tumor resulting in reduction of tumor growth and metastasis.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in southern parts of the American continent. Herein, we have tested the protective efficacy of a DNA-prime/T. rangeli-boost (TcVac4) vaccine in a dog (Canis familiaris) model. Dogs were immunized with two-doses of DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1 encoding TcG1, TcG2, and TcG4 antigens plus IL-12- and GM-CSF-encoding plasmids) followed by two doses of glutaraldehyde-inactivated T. rangeli epimastigotes (TrIE); and challenged with highly pathogenic T. cruzi (SylvioX10/4) isolate. Dogs given TrIE or empty pcDNA3.1 were used as controls. We monitored post-vaccination and post-challenge infection antibody response by an ELISA, parasitemia by blood analysis and xenodiagnosis, and heart function by electrocardiography. Post-mortem anatomic and pathologic evaluation of the heart was conducted. TcVac4 induced a strong IgG response (IgG2>IgG1) that was significantly expanded post-infection, and moved to a nearly balanced IgG2/IgG1 response in chronic phase. In comparison, dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only developed high IgG titers with IgG2 predominance in response to T. cruzi infection. Blood parasitemia, tissue parasite foci, parasite transmission to triatomines, electrocardiographic abnormalities were significantly lower in TcVac4-vaccinated dogs than was observed in dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations, the hallmarks of chronic Chagas disease, were significantly decreased in the myocardium of TcVac4-vaccinated dogs. We conclude that TcVac4 induced immunity was beneficial in providing resistance to T. cruzi infection, evidenced by control of chronic pathology of the heart and preservation of cardiac function in dogs. Additionally, TcVac4 vaccination decreased the transmission of parasites from vaccinated/infected animals to triatomines.

Noninvasive optical imaging with deep tissue penetration depth and high spatiotemporal resolution is important to longitudinally studying the biology at the single-cell level in live mammals, but has been challenging due to light scattering. Here, we developed near-infrared II (NIR-II) (1,000 to 1,700 nm) structured-illumination light-sheet microscopy (NIR-II SIM) with ultralong excitation and emission wavelengths up to ~1,540 and ~1,700 nm, respectively, suppressing light scattering to afford large volumetric threedimensional (3D) imaging of tissues with deep-axial penetration depths. Integrating structured illumination into NIR-II light-sheet microscopy further diminished background and improved spatial resolution by approximately twofold. In vivo oblique NIR-II SIM was performed noninvasively for 3D volumetric multiplexed molecular imaging of the CT26 tumor microenvironment in mice, longitudinally mapping out CD4, CD8, and OX40 at the single-cell level in response to immunotherapy by cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG), a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) agonist combined with OX40 antibody treatment. NIR-II SIM affords an additional tool for noninvasive volumetric molecular imaging of immune cells in live mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To guarantee quality standards for the industry, surface properties, particularly those of roughness, must be considered in many areas of application. Today, several methods are available on the market, but some damage the surface to be tested as they measure it by contact. A non-contact method for the precise estimation of sub-micron roughness values is presented, which can be used as an extension of existing roughness measurement techniques to improve them further considering the depolarized light reflected by the sample. This setup is based on a Michelson interferometer, and by introducing a quarter-wave plate on a half part of the reference mirror, the surface roughness can be directly derived by measuring the fringe contrasts. This article introduces a simple model describing the intensity distortions resulting from the microscopic roughness in divided interferograms when considering depolarization. This work aimed to extend the measurement range of the technique developed in a previous work, in which depolarization effects are taken into account. For verification, the experimental results were compared with the fringe contrast technique, which does not consider the depolarization of the scattered light, especially regarding the extended wavelength interval, highlighting the limits of the technique. In addition, simulations of the experiments are presented. For comparison, the reference values of the sample roughness were also generated by measurements with a stylus profiler.

El queso botanero que se produce en el noreste del Estado de México, se caracteriza porque se elabora con leche cruda, lo que representa un riesgo en cuanto a su calidad higiénico-sanitaria. Se presenta solo o se le adiciona chile cuaresmeño fresco y epazote o chile chipotle. A estos condimentos se les han asociado propiedades bactericidas y bacteriostáticas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si los condimentos adicionados al queso botanero, influyen en los conteos de unidades formadoras de colonia (UFC) de lactobacillus, coliformes totales (COL), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) y levaduras (LEV), y el pH (características fisicoquímicas) de las variedades de queso botanero analizadas. El estudio se realizó en una quesería de tipo familiar del noreste del Estado de México (método de invitación). Se realizó el conteo de Lactobacillus, COL, S. aureus y LEV, los recuentos fueron superiores a los permitidos para COL (100 UFC/g y 10,000 UFC/g), S. aureus (1,000 UFC/g y 100 UFC/g) y LEV (500 UFC/g). Los condimentos adicionados al queso artesanal modifican los conteos de UFC/g, pero no los disminuyen a valores permitidos por la normatividad

This work presents an optical non-contact technique to evaluate the fatigue damage state of CFRP structures measuring the irregularity factor of the surface. This factor includes information about surface topology and can be measured easily on field, by techniques such as optical perfilometers. The surface irregularity factor has been correlated with stiffness degradation, which is a well-accepted parameter for the evaluation of the fatigue damage state of composite materials. Constant amplitude fatigue loads (CAL) and realistic variable amplitude loads (VAL), representative of real in- flight conditions, have been applied to “dog bone” shaped tensile specimens. It has been shown that the measurement of the surface irregularity parameters can be applied to evaluate the damage state of a structure, and that it is independent of the type of fatigue load that has caused the damage. As a result, this measurement technique is applicable for a wide range of inspections of composite material structures, from pressurized tanks with constant amplitude loads, to variable amplitude loaded aeronautical structures such as wings and empennages, up to automotive and other industrial applications.

We present an optical sensing methodology to estimate the fatigue damage state of structures made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), by measuring variations on the surface roughness. Variable amplitude loads (VAL), which represent realistic loads during aeronautical missions of fighter aircraft (FALSTAFF) have been applied to coupons until failure. Stiffness degradation and surface roughness variations have been measured during the life of the coupons obtaining a Pearson correlation of 0.75 between both variables. The data were compared with a previous study for Constant Amplitude Load (CAL) obtaining similar results. Conclusions suggest that the surface roughness measured in strategic zones is a useful technique for structural health monitoring of CFRP structures, and that it is independent of the type of load applied. Surface roughness can be measured in the field by optical techniques such as speckle, confocal perfilometers and interferometry, among others.

In a small-scale sheep flock located in the State of Mexico with eight ewes and one stud, four ewes had clinical signs of endemic goiter, two aborted fetuses were used for a diagnostic study. In fetuses, thyroid gland samples were used for histopathological evaluation, and liver, heart, kidney and skeletal muscle samples were used to measure selenium. In the ewes the blood serum profile of thyroid hormones was measured by ELISA test. In fetuses there was an increment of thyroid gland size (6-8 cm), firm consistency and red intense color, as well as scarce fleece and subcutaneous edema; there were hyperplasia and hypertrophy of follicular cells of thyroid, with cube-like aspect, diffuse expanded, irregular shape and distension with presence of vacuoles and abundant eosinophilic colloid. The selenium concentrations in liver and kidney of fetuses were low (0.25 and 0.90 ppm). In ewes, the thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) contents were deficient (0.48±0.08 and 4.14±0.29 µg dL-1) and the ratio (T4:T3) was very broad (1:8.6 µg dL-1). It is concluded that the lambs suffered from colloidal goiter; thyroid hormones concentrations in ewes were low and confirmed a thyroid metabolism altered; additionally goiter may be aggravated by selenium deficiency.

The characteristics of a surface, particularly the roughness, play an important role in different fields of the industry and have to be considered to ensure quality standards. Currently, there are numerous sophisticated methods for measuring surface roughness but plenty of them cause long-term damage because they are in contact with the sample. This article presents a non-contact method to accurately determine small surface roughnesses resulting from the consideration of the depolarization effects caused by the rough surface. This technique can be applied as an extension in various roughness measurements and improves the approach of Chandley’s technique, which does not take into account the depolarization of the light scattered by the sample. The experimental setup and the measurements are easy to perform. The essential component is a quarter wave plate, which is incorporated into a Michelson interferometer. With the resulting two different contrasts and the recorded intensities of the sample and the reference mirror, the surface roughness can be estimated straightforwardly. This article details the theoretical approach, followed by the experimental results and the corresponding uncertainties. The experimental results are compared with Chandley’s method. In order to have reference roughness values of the samples, measurements with a stylus profilometer and with a confocal microscope are performed and compared.

The study of the damage of aeronautical materials is important because it may change the microscopic surface structure profiles. The modification of geometrical surface properties can cause small instabilities and then a displacement of the boundary layer. One of the irregularities we can often find is surface roughness. Due to an increase of roughness and other effects, there may be extra momentum losses in the boundary layer and a modification in the parasite drag. In this paper we present a speckle method for measuring the surface roughness on an actual unmanned aircraft wing. The results show an inhomogeneous roughness distribution on the wing, as expected according to the anisotropic influence of the winds over the entire wing geometry. A calculation of the uncertainty of the technique is given.

La mastitis ocasiona grandes pérdidas económicas en los hatos lecheros. El Staphylococcus aureus es uno de los principales agentes causales de la enfermedad, considerado de importancia en la salud pública y la salud del hato. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de S. aureus y los biotipos predominantes en vacas con mastitis subclínica en hatos de producción lechera familiar en la región económica I, Centro-Este del Estado de México. Se condujo un estudio trasversal, en 269 vacas de diferentes etapas de lactación e información del hato en una encuesta cerrada. La muestra de leche se recolectó de cada vaca. La detección de mastitis se realizó mediante la prueba de California. Los biotipos de S. aureus se caracterizaron por medio de la técnica de agar tripticasa soya adicionado con cristal violeta 1:100,000. En las vacas estudiadas la prevalencia de mastitis subclínica fue del 48.3 % (IC95% 42.22 a 54.47) y de mastitis clínica 6.1 % (IC95% 3.44 a 9.48). Se obtuvieron 62 aislamientos de S. aureus, el 79 % correspondió al biotipo C (humano), el 11.3 % al A (bovino), el 6.5 % al E (canino) y el 3.2 % a hospederos no específicos. El tamaño del hato resultó un factor de riesgo asociado a la mayor frecuencia de S. aureus, especialmente cuando el hato fue mayor de 13 vacas (OR=5.63, IC95% 1.72 a 18.21). Se identifico una prevalencia elevada de mastitis subclínica asociada a la infección por S. aureus Biotipos C y A considerados de importancia en la salud pública.

Los B-agonistas adrenérgicos (BAA) se han utilizado en la producción animal, incluidos los rumiantes, propiciando una mayor eficiencia de uso del alimento, la cual se manifiesta en mejores características de la canal, así como en la composición química de la carne, al reducir el contenido de grasa y aumentar el de proteína. En el presente documento se revisa la estructura química y los mecanismos de acción de los BAA en el metabolismo de los nutrientes, así como resultados de investigaciones sobre BAA usados en la producción animal y sus efectos en la eficiencia de uso de los nutrientes que se traducen en mejoras en el crecimiento y en la calidad de la carne, principalmente en sistemas de alimentación intensiva; también se presenta información sobre la producción e inocuidad de la carne para evitar el uso de sustancias no aprobadas en la nutrición animal, por representar riesgos en la salud pública.

The surface structure, especially the roughness, has a significant influence on numerous parameters, such as friction and wear, and therefore estimates the quality of technical systems. In the last decades, a broad variety of surface roughness measurement methods were developed. A destructive measurement procedure or the lack of feasibility of online monitoring are the crucial drawbacks of most of these methods. This article proposes a new non-contact method for measuring the surface roughness that is straightforward to implement and easy to extend to online monitoring processes. The key element is a liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulator, integrated in an interferometric setup. By varying the imprinted phase of the modulator, a correlation between the imprinted phase and the fringe visibility of an interferogram is measured, and the surface roughness can be derived. This paper presents the theoretical approach of the method and first simulation and experimental results for a set of surface roughnesses. The experimental results are compared with values obtained by an atomic force microscope and a stylus profiler.

Introducción: El cáncer de vesícula biliar está aumentando su incidencia, especialmente en grupos étnicos específicos, como el indígena americano. La utilización del tipo histológico y estadiaje TNM son criterios útiles para diseñar un tratamiento apropiado y pronosticar la sobrevida en los pacientes. Objetivos: Determinar el tipo histológico de cáncer de vesícula biliar y el estadiaje de presentación según la clasificación TNM. Material y Métodos: Es un estudio de tipo transversal y analítico. Se evaluaron 73 pacientes con diagnóstico anatomopatológico de cáncer de vesícula biliar, en los cuales se determina el tipo histológico más frecuente y la pertenencia a un estadío de la clasificación TNM. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el Hospital Honorio Delgado de Arequipa, durante el periodo temporal de enero 2005 hasta junio 2010. Resultados: El tipo histológico más frecuente fue el adenocarcinoma con 71,2%. Asimismo el subtipo histológico más común fue el adenocarcinoma tubular con 42,3% de casos. El estadío TNM más frecuente fue el IIB con 35,5% de casos, seguido por el IV con 24,6%. Conclusión: En el Hospital Honorio Delgado de Arequipa el tipo histológico de cáncer de vesícula biliar más frecuente entre los años 2005-2010 es el adenocarcinoma tubular. Asimismo los pacientes se mostraban al momento del diagnóstico en el estadío IIB con mayor frecuencia.