Tulane University

About: Tulane University is a education organization based out in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Blood pressure. The organization has 24478 authors who have published 47205 publications receiving 1944993 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Louisiana.

Cutting Edge: Induction of B7-H4 on APCs through IL-10: Novel Suppressive Mode for Regulatory T Cells

Abstract: Multiple modes of suppressive mechanisms including IL-10 are thought to be implicated in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cell-mediated suppression. However, the cellular source, role, and molecular mechanism of IL-10 in Treg cell biology remain controversial. We now studied the interaction between Treg cells and APCs. We demonstrate that Treg cells, but not conventional T cells, trigger high levels of IL-10 production by APCs, stimulate APC B7-H4 expression, and render APCs immunosuppressive. Initial blockade of B7-H4 reduces the suppressive activity mediated by Treg cell-conditioned APCs. Further, APC-derived, rather than Treg cell-derived, IL-10 is responsible for APC B7-H4 induction. Therefore, Treg cells convey suppressive activity to APCs by stimulating B7-H4 expression through IL-10. Altogether, our data provide a novel cellular and molecular mechanism for Treg cell-mediated immunosuppression at the level of APCs, and suggest a plausible mechanism for the suppressive effect of IL-10 in Treg cell-mediated suppression.

Telomere length and early severe social deprivation: linking early adversity and cellular aging

Abstract: Accelerated telomere length attrition has been associated with psychological stress and early adversity in adults; however, no studies have examined whether telomere length in childhood is associated with early experiences. The Bucharest Early Intervention Project is a unique randomized controlled trial of foster care placement compared with continued care in institutions. As a result of the study design, participants were exposed to a quantified range of time in institutional care, and represented an ideal population in which to examine the association between a specific early adversity, institutional care and telomere length. We examined the association between average relative telomere length, telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number (T/S) ratio and exposure to institutional care quantified as the percent of time at baseline (mean age 22 months) and at 54 months of age that each child lived in the institution. A significant negative correlation between T/S ratio and percentage of time was observed. Children with greater exposure to institutional care had significantly shorter relative telomere length in middle childhood. Gender modified this main effect. The percentage of time in institutional care at baseline significantly predicted telomere length in females, whereas the percentage of institutional care at 54 months was strongly predictive of telomere length in males. This is the first study to demonstrate an association between telomere length and institutionalization, the first study to find an association between adversity and telomere length in children, and contributes to the growing literature linking telomere length and early adversity.

Reported adherence as a determinant of response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in children who have human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract: Objective. The complexity of highly ac- tive antiretroviral therapy (HAART), with multiple med- ications, formulations, and dosing intervals, makes ad- herence challenging. Little is known about the adherence of children to HAART. The objective of this study was to identify correlates of adherence to HAART and the rela- tionship between adherence and study outcomes in a pediatric clinical trial. Methods. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377 is a phase I/II randomized trial of 4 HAART regimens in antiretroviral-experienced, clinically stable children aged 4 months to 17 years. The 4 treatment arms include var- ious 3- or 4-drug combinations of d4T, 3TC, nevirapine, ritonavir, and nelfinavir. After informed consent was obtained, 193 children were enrolled between December 1997 and September 1998. Questionnaires were devel- oped to collect subject- or caregiver-reported adherence to study medications and to identify problems associated with medication administration. Every 3 months, the number of doses of each medication missed during the 3 days preceding the study visit was recorded. Full adher- ence (FA) and non-full adherence were defined as miss- ing no doses and missing at least 1 dose, respectively. Results. Adherence data from study week 48 or the most recent study visit were available for 125 children (week 48 for 109 children). Overall, 70% of children re- ported FA and 30% reported non-full adherence. Adher- ence did not differ by treatment arm, age, or the child's knowledge of his or her human immunodeficiency virus infection status. There was a suggestion that adherence was less for white than nonwhite children (40% vs 73% FA) and did not differ between black and Hispanic chil- dren. Rates of FA were 82% for d4T, 79% for 3TC, 83% for nevirapine, 84% for ritonavir, and 68% for nelfinavir. Despite the similar rates of FA, difficulties with taking specific medications were reported most frequently for ritonavir and nelfinavir. These included poor taste, pa- tient refusal, and scheduling problems. Adherence was associated with the virologic response: FA was seen in 92% of children with >2 log10 drop in viral load and in 64% with <2 log10 drop in viral load. Conclusion. In children, reported adherence predicts the virologic response to HAART therapy and is a useful measure of adherence. Interventions and regimens to increase adherence to HAART should result in an im- proved outcome. Pediatrics 2002;109(4). URL: http:// www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/109/4/e61; adherence, compliance, HIV, antiretroviral therapy, protease inhibi- tors.

Comparison of smooth-gel hyaluronic acid dermal fillers with cross-linked bovine collagen: a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, within-subject study.

Abstract: BACKGROUNDA new family of next-generation non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers was approved by the FDA in June 2006. Compared with other HA fillers available in the United States at the time of writing, these new fillers have a higher concentration of HA, higher concentration of cross-link