In this study, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of nine tumour antigens in human glioblastoma multiforme with a view to their possible use in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy. Expression of ALK, EGFRvIII, GALT3, gp100, IL-13Ralpha2, MAGE-A3, NA17-A, TRP-2 and tyrosinase were studied by real-time RT-PCR on frozen tissues using a series of 47 tumour samples from patients with glioblastoma. Results were compared with non-neoplastic brain expression or glioblastoma samples with very low levels of expression near the limits of detection for EGFRvIII and MAGE-A3, as these latter two antigens were not detected in non-neoplastic brain. Tumour antigens showing a 5-fold increase in mRNA expression were considered as positive, and only antigens displaying an mRNA over-expression in a significant number of cases were analysed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections. Using real time RT-PCR, we found EGFRvIII, gp100, IL-13Ralpha2 and TRP-2 to be positive in 64, 38, 32 and 21% of cases, respectively. While we observed no over-expression for ALK, GALT3 and tyrosinase, 3 samples out of 47 were positive for MAGE-3 and 1 sample for NA17-A. More than 25% of tumour cells showed strong protein expression in 13, 34, 85 and 96% of GBM samples for gp100, TRP-2, EGFRvIII and IL-13Ralpha2, respectively. Interestingly, protein expression of at least 3 antigens was observed in 38% of cases. These results point out the importance of EGFRvIII, IL-13Ralpha2 and, to a less extent gp100 and TRP-2, for developing an immunotherapy strategy against glioblastoma.

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The EEG bispectrum, as well as the BIS appeared to be strongly related to the age of children at 1 MAC sevoflurane.

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Background: Late-onset sepsis in the premature infant is frequently revealed by severe, unusual and recurrent bradycardias. In view of the high morbidity and mortality associated with infection, reliable markers are needed. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to determine if heart rate (HR) behavior may help the diagnosis of infection in premature infants with such cardiac decelerations. Methods: Electrocardiogram recordings were collected in 51 premature infants with a postmenstrual age <33 weeks with frequent bradycardias. Newborns in the sepsis group (C-reactive protein increase and positive blood culture) were compared with a no-sepsis group (C-reactive protein <5 mg/l before and 24 h after recording and negative blood cultures) for their HR characteristics, i.e. RR series distribution (mean, median, skewness, kurtosis, sample asymmetry), magnitude of variability in time and frequency domain, fractal exponents (α₁, α₂) and complexity measurements (approximate and sample entropy). Results are presented as the median (25%, 75%). Results: Gestational, chronological and postmenstrual age and gender were similar in the sepsis (n = 10) and no-sepsis group (n = 38). Three infants had an increase in C-reactive protein but negative cultures. Low entropy measurements [approximate entropy 0.4 (0.3, 0.5) vs. 0.8 (0.6, 1); p < 0.001] and long-range fractal exponent [α₂ 0.78 (0.71, 0.83) vs. 0.92 (0.8, 1.1); p < 0.05] were significantly associated with sepsis. No other HR characteristic was associated with sepsis. The decrease in 0.1 units of approximate entropy was associated with an over 2-fold increase in the odds of sepsis. Conclusion: Late-onset sepsis is associated with uncorrelated randomness of the HR. This abnormal HR behavior may help to monitor premature infants presenting with frequent and severe bradycardias.

Cardiovascular deconditioning after long duration spaceXight is especially challenging in women who have a lower orthostatic tolerance (OT) compared with men. We hypothesized that an exercise prescription, combining supine aerobic treadmill exercise in a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) chamber followed by 10 min of resting LBNP, three to four times a week, and Xywheel resistive training every third day would maintain orthostatic tolerance (OT) in women during a 60-day head-down-tilt bed rest (HDBR). Sixteen women were assigned to two groups (exercise, control). Pre and post HDBR OT was assessed with a tilt/LBNP test until presyncope. OT time (mean § SE) decreased from 17.5 § 1.0 min to 9.1 § 1.5 min (¡50 § 6%) in control group (P < 0.001) and from 19.3 § 1.3 min to 13.0 § 1.9 min (¡35 § 7%) in exercise group (P < 0.001), with no signiWcant diVerence in OT time between the two groups after HDBR (P = 0.13). Nevertheless, compared with controls post HDBR, exercisers had a lower heart rate during supine rest (mean § SE, 71 § 3 vs. 85 § 4, P < 0.01), a slower increase in heart rate and a slower decrease in stroke volume over the course of tilt/ LBNP test (P < 0.05). Blood volume (mean § SE) decreased in controls (¡9 § 2%, P < 0.01) but was maintained in exercisers (¡4 § 3%, P = 0.17).Our results suggest that the combined exercise countermeasure did not signiWcantly improve OT but protected blood volume and cardiovascular response to sub tolerance levels of orthostatic stress.