Search

We have compared interferon-gamma (IFN-y) with saponin and interleukin-1 (IL-1) as adjuvants for a blood-stage malaria vaccine in mice with various immunological abnormalities. IFN-γ was particularly effective in Biozzi low antibody responder mice, mice selectively bred to produce antibody of low affinity, and mice depleted of CD4+ T cells. IFN-γ and other cytokines may be safe adjuvants for use in human immunodeficiency states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To optimize elastography and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) modalities, it is important to create phantoms that can reliably mimic the properties of human tissue and be used in reference imaging experiments. In this study, we used polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C), agar, and agarose gels. To create a tissue mimicking phantom appropriate for relaxometry, non-Gaussian diffusion imaging and ultrasound elastography and to investigate potential relationships between quantities accessible from different imaging modalities for cancer patients such as prostate cases. Homogenous gel phantoms were created in different concentrations to set MRI and elastography parameters to be consistent with those found in healthy and diseased prostate tissue. Images were acquired on a 3T scanner for relaxometry and DWI studies. In-house software (MATLAB) was used to analyse the images on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Shear Wave Elastography was used to obtain speed and Young's Modulus of the phantoms. As qualitative and quantitative assessments, ultrasound and CT were used and the results were identical for each gel phantoms, confirming homogeneity in addition to slice profiles and field maps obtained from MRI. Relaxation times and diffusion coefficients of the phantoms were found as compatible with the previous studies in the literature. A good correlation was observed in agar gels on their elasticity than other phantoms. Our gel phantoms were developed and evaluated for MRI diffusion and elastography imaging modalities and design to mimic tissue parameters for prostate cancer. The phantoms may also model other tissues to various degrees. ZGP would like to acknowledge TUBITAK for her financial support with a Project No. 1059B141400677 and Research Fund of Çukurova University , Project No. FDK-2014-2709 during this work. SS acknowledges funding from a Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Fellowship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]