Saint Louis University

About: Saint Louis University is a education organization based out in St Louis, Missouri, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 18927 authors who have published 34895 publications receiving 1267475 citations. The organization is also known as: SLU & St. Louis University.

Evaluation of a live, cold-passaged, temperature-sensitive, respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate in infancy

Abstract: A live-attenuated, intranasal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) candidate vaccine, cpts-248/ 404, was tested in phase 1 trials in 114 children, including 37 1-2-month-old infants-a target age for RSV vaccines. The cpts-248/404 vaccine was infectious at 104 and 105 plaque-forming units in RSV-naive children and was broadly immunogenic in children >6 months old. Serum and nasal antibody responses in 1-2 month olds were restricted to IgA, had a dominant response to RSV G protein, and had no increase in neutralizing activity. Nevertheless, there was restricted virus shedding on challenge with a second vaccine dose and preliminary evidence for protection from symptomatic disease on natural reexposure. The cpts-248/404 vaccine candidate did not cause fever or lower respiratory tract illness. In the youngest infants, however, cpts-248/404 was unacceptable because of upper respiratory tract congestion associated with peak virus recovery. A live attenuated RSV vaccine for the youngest infant will use cpts-248/404 modified by additional attenuating mutations.

Tumor Microenvironments Direct the Recruitment and Expansion of Human Th17 Cells

Abstract: Although Th17 cells play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, their prevalence among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and function in human tumor immunity remains largely unknown. We have recently demonstrated high percentages of Th17 cells in TILs from ovarian cancer patients, but the mechanisms of accumulation of these Th17 cells in the tumor microenvironment are still unclear. In this study, we further showed elevated Th17 cell populations in the TILs obtained from melanoma and breast and colon cancers, suggesting that development of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ Th17 cells may be a general feature in cancer patients. We then demonstrated that tumor microenvironmental RANTES and MCP-1 secreted by tumor cells and tumor-derived fibroblasts mediate the recruitment of Th17 cells. In addition to their recruitment, we found that tumor cells and tumor-derived fibroblasts produce a proinflammatory cytokine milieu as well as provide cell–cell contact engagement that facilitates the generation and expansion of Th17 cells. We also showed that inflammatory TLR and nucleotide oligomerization binding domain 2 signaling promote the attraction and generation of Th17 cells induced by tumor cells and tumor-derived fibroblasts. These results identify Th17 cells as an important component of human TILs, demonstrate mechanisms involved in the recruitment and regulation of Th17 cells in tumor microenvironments, and provide new insights relevant for the development of novel cancer immunotherapeutic approaches.

Bone repair techniques, bone graft, and bone graft substitutes.

Abstract: This paper reviews the techniques and materials (bone graft and bone graft substitutes) that currently are used to treat nonunions and bone defects. The techniques reviewed are intramedullary nailing, plating, distraction osteogenesis, and electric stimulation. Bone graft and bone graft substitutes reviewed are as follows: vascularized bone transfers; autogenous bone graft; autogenous bone marrow; dimineralized bone matrix; growth factors; calcium sulphate; calcium phosphates; and allograft. The goal of management of fractures, nonunions, and segmental bony defects, is the return of function as quickly and completely as possible. Techniques and management strategies constantly are evolving to accomplish this goal. This paper reviews the history, indications, and limitations of bone repair techniques, methods of bone grafting, and materials available as bone graft substitutes.

Effect of aging on left ventricular diastolic filling in normal subjects.

Abstract: To determine the effect of aging on left ventricular filling, mitral valve flow was evaluated with real-time (color flow) and conventional pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 32 subjects, aged 24 to 68 years, who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease. The diameter of mitral valve flow was measured in early and late diastole in the apical 4-chamber view. Transmitral velocities were measured in early and late diastole with pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The early flow diameter was significantly smaller in patients older than 50 than in those aged 20 to 29 years (p less than 0.05), while atrial flow diameter was significantly larger in patients older than 50 than in those aged 20 to 29 years (p less than 0.05). The ratio of early flow diameter to atrial flow diameter was 1.85 +/- 0.33 in patients 20 to 29 years old and 1.17 +/- 0.28 in those older than 50 (p less than 0.001). The ratio of early to atrial diastolic velocities was 1.98 +/- 0.53 in the younger patients and 1.07 +/- 0.41 in those older than 50 years (p less than 0.001). The ratio of early flow diameter to atrial flow diameter decreased significantly with aging, and this decrease had a negative correlation with aging (r = -0.64). Qualitatively, in these normal subjects, early diastolic flow filled the ventricle centrally, while with atrial contraction, flow entered the ventricle toward the posterolateral wall and was associated with flow moving toward the aortic valve along the ventricular septum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)