5 or pS promoter for comparison. In primary or cultured cells, EGFP expression under the control of pHyb was detected within 30 min, as an immediate-early protein, and remained higher over the first 6 h of infection than p7.5- or pS-driven EGFP expression. Repeated immunizations of mice with recombinant MVA expressing OVA under the control of the pHyb promoter

led to superior acute and memory CD8 T-cell responses compared to those to p7.5- and pS-driven OVA. Moreover, OVA expressed under the control of pHyb replaced the MVA-derived B8R protein as the immunodominant CD8 see more T-cell antigen after three or more immunizations. This is the first demonstration of an immediate-early neoantigen expressed by a poxviral vector resulting in superior induction of neoantigen-specific CD8 T-cell responses.”
“BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in evaluating acute spinal cord injury. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values

obtained by diffusion-weighted imaging can differentiate cytotoxic edema from vasogenic edema through microscopic motion of water protons.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ADC values in the cervical spinal cord match neurological grades and thus predict functional recovery in patients suffering from cervical spinal cord injury.

METHODS: Diffusion-weighted images were obtained using 15 axial slices covering the cervical spinal cord from 16 consecutive patients. ADC values were determined for both gray and white matter. All patients were treated surgically. Akt inhibitor Patient neurological status was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with the Frankel classification

and neurosurgical cervical spine scale. One patient had complete spinal cord injury and showed no recovery. Using 15 patients with incomplete injury, we analyzed correlations between preoperative ADC values and neurological grading, degree of check details postoperative recovery, or cavity formation in follow-up magnetic resonance images. For comparison, ADC values of 11 healthy volunteers were also calculated.

RESULTS: There was significant correlation between ADC values and degree of postoperative recovery (P = .02). ADC values of patients showing cavity formation were significantly lower than those of patients without cavity formation (0.70 vs 0.96 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; P = .01). The cutoff ADC value of 0.80 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s resulted in 75% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity for predicting cavity formation.

CONCLUSION: Low ADC values in acute spinal cord injury may indicate postoperative cavity formation in the injured spinal cord and predict poor functional recovery.”
“Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum protein that plays an important role in host defenses as an opsonin and through activation of the complement system.