Immunogenicity of Exosomes from Dendritic Cells Stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii Lysates in Ocularly Immunized Mice

Immunogenicity of dendritic cell-derived exosomes stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii lysates (TLA exo), mixed with cholera toxin as an adjuvant, was investigated in mice immunized via 2 mucosal routes (ocular vs intranasal). BALB/c mice were injected 3 times with TLA exo vaccine at 2 week interval, and the levels of IgG in serum and IgA in tear, saliva, feces, and vaginal wash were measured. To observe the expression of T. gondii-specific B1 gene, mice infected with ME49 T. gondii cysts were immunized with TLA exo or PBS exo (not stimulated with TLA), and their brain tissues were examined. The mice vaccinated via intranasal route elicited significantly higher humoral and mucosal immune responses compared with mice treated with PBS alone. Also, mice immunized via ocular route (by eyedrop) induced significantly higher T. gondii-specific IgG in serum and IgA in tear and feces in comparison with PBS controls. B1 gene expression was significantly lower in TLA exo vaccinated mice than in PBS or PBS exo vaccinated mice. These results demonstrated that ocular immunization of mice with TLA exo vaccine has the potential to stimulate systemic or local antibody responses. This study also highlighted an advantage of an eyedrop vaccine as an alternative for T. gondii intranasal vaccines.

Safety of subtotal or total colectomy with primary anastomosis compared to Hartmann procedure for left-sided colon cancer obstruction or perforation

PURPOSE: Whether subtotal or total colectomy with primary anastomosis (PA) is safer than Hartmann procedure (HP) for left-sided colon cancer obstruction or perforation remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative morbidity, mortality, and defecation frequency between PA and HP for left-sided colon cancer obstruction or perforation.METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 54 patients from January 2014 to February 2018 who underwent emergency surgery due to left-sided colon cancer obstruction or perforation.RESULTS: PA was carried out in 20 patients while HP was performed for 34 patients. Thirty-day mortality did not show significant difference between the two groups (15.0% vs. 14.7%, P=1.000). No anastomotic leakage occurred in PA group while three (8.8%) cases of stump leakage occurred in HP group. Stoma repair was performed for 13 cases (44.8%) and stoma reformation was performed for one case in HP group (7.7%). Stoma related complications occurred in five cases (17.24%). For patients after stoma repair, defecation frequency at 3 months after operation was 2.91±2.88 times per day in PA group and 2.86±2.63 times per day in HP group. At 1 year after operation, defecation frequency was changed to 1.40±1.12 times per day in PA group and 1.17±0.39 times per day in HP group.CONCLUSION: Primary ileosigmoid or ileorectal anastomosis for left-sided colon cancer obstruction or perforation is safe, and shows similar outcome of defecation frequency compared to HP.