ABSTRACT
We report fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) findings of three neurofibromas in the mediastinum and neck in a 26-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1. PET/CT scans demonstrated varying degrees of FDG uptake with maximum standard uptake values (SUV(max)) of 5.3, 1.8 and 3.2 for left lower neck, left paratracheal and right paravertebral masses, respectively. Surgical resections were carried out and histopathology confirmed three benign neurofibromas with various tissue components and cellularities.
Subject(s)
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Mediastinal Neoplasms , Neurofibromatosis 1 , Radiopharmaceuticals , Adult , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Incidental Findings , Mediastinal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Neurofibromatosis 1/diagnostic imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Radiography , Tracheal Neoplasms/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Despite recent advances in the chemotherapy of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), an effective viral suppression after cessation of therapy has not yet been achieved. To investigate whether hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific T-cell responses are inducible and can contribute to the viral suppression after cessation of the therapy, we conducted a proof-of-concept study with a DNA vaccine comprising of most HBV genes plus genetically engineered interleukin-12 DNA (IL-12N222L) in 12 CHB carriers being treated with lamivudine (LAM). When the ex vivo and/or cultured IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay was performed, the detectable HBV-specific IFN-gamma secreting T-cell responses were observed at the end of treatment and during a follow-up. These type 1T-cell responses, particularly CD4(+) memory T-cell responses could be maintained for at least 40 weeks after the therapy and correlated with virological responses, but not with alanine aminotransferase elevation. Moreover, DNA vaccination under LAM treatment appeared to be well-tolerated and showed 50% of virological response rate in CHB carriers. Thus, a combination therapy of the DNA vaccine with chemotherapy may be one of new immunotherapeutic methods for the cure of CHB.
Subject(s)
Genetic Therapy/methods , Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage , Adult , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Genetic Engineering , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Hepatitis B, Chronic/therapy , Heterozygote , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Interferon-gamma/immunology , Interleukin-12/genetics , Lamivudine/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Recurrence , Virus ReplicationABSTRACT
Rehmannia chitinases were extracted from the leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa under acidic conditions (pH 2.9). We purified a 28.6-kDa chitinase, designated as P2, from crude extract to homogeneity by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, chromatography with regenerated chitin affinity and hydrophobic interaction column, and preparative native PAGE. Isolated P2 showed maximum chitinase activity at pH 5.0 and 60°C, and had a isoelectric point of 8.46. P2 produced only (GlcNAc)2 from (GlcNAc)4-6 and regenerated chitin. Based on these results, we arrived at the conclusion that P2 was a basic exochitinase.
