Cationic micelle delivery of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate derived from tumor-associated antigens, causing regression in established CT26 colorectal tumors in mice.

Among all the cancers, colorectal cancer (CRC) has the third mortality rank in both genders. Cancer vaccines have shown promising results in boosting patients' immune systems to fight cancer. Using the IEDB database, we predicted mouse MHC-I (H2-Ld) binding epitopes from four tumor-associated antigens (APC, KRAS, TP53, and PIK3CA) and designed a multi-epitope vaccine. We expressed the candidate vaccine and encapsulated it into the cationic micelle with polyethyleneimine conjugated to oleic acid as its building blocks. We studied tumor inhibition effect, cytokine production, and lymphocyte proliferation in the mouse CRC model after vaccination. Our finding illustrated significant tumor growth inhibition in mouse models treated with the candidate nanovaccine. Besides the significant release of IFN-γ and IL-4 by immunized mouse spleen T-lymphocytes, T-cell proliferation assay results confirmed effective immune response after the vaccination. These results demonstrate the potential therapeutic effects of nanovaccines and could be a possible approach to CRC immunotherapy.

Thyroid nodule in an eighteen-year-old man as the first presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy of childhood. Patients with ALL commonly present with easy bruising and infections due to medullary involvement. The extra medullary involvements of ALL manifests as hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and testicular enlargement. Among extramedullary manifestations of the ALL, thyroid involvement is rare. Herein, we reported a case of ALL that manifested as a thyroid nodule. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old young man with a thyroid nodule presented without any other symptom or sign. The excisional biopsy of the nodule was planned by the surgeon. After two months of lost to follow-up, the patient returned with a complaint of continuous bleeding after a tooth extraction. Peripheral blood smear (PBS) study and bone marrow aspiration proposed ALL and the flow cytometry confirmed the diagnosis. The R-Hyper-CVAD induction chemotherapeutic regimen (rituximab in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone) was used for treatment. Interestingly, thyroid sonography and Tc(99m) scan showed resolution of the thyroid nodule after chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: In this patient, poor interdisciplinary communication and the rarity of this manifestation led to a delayed diagnosis. Therefore, we insist on more careful clinical examinations, reassessment of unusual FNA reports, and closer communication between clinicians and pathologists in such cases. This approach would lead to accurate and earlier diagnosis and would prevent unnecessary interventions.

Serum ferritin concentration in gestational diabetes mellitus and risk of subsequent development of early postpartum diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To compare the serum ferritin concentrations of normal pregnant women with those having gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to determine the possible role of ferritin in predicting pregnancy outcome and early development of postpartum glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. METHOD: This case-control study consisted of 128 pregnant women (64 women with GDM and 64 age-matched healthy pregnant women) seen at a university hospital in Zanjan, Iran. Anthropometric measurements were determined, and serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)), and hemoglobin levels were measured. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded in all subjects. In the women with GDM, a diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test was performed eight weeks after delivery. RESULTS: Women with GDM had a higher concentration of serum ferritin (112 ± 28.4 pmol/L in GDM versus 65 ± 16.9 pmol/L in controls, P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between serum ferritin level and mid-pregnancy fasting plasma glucose and HbA(lc) levels. Although women in the highest quartile of serum ferritin had a greater than two-fold increased risk of GDM, no significant correlation was found between ferritin levels and early postpartum oral glucose tolerance test results. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum ferritin concentrations in mid-pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of GDM independent of C-reactive protein and body mass index. Ferritin levels in GDM cannot be used as an indicator to predict subsequent glucose concentration in early postpartum oral glucose tolerance test.

The preventive effect of cannabinoids on reperfusion-induced ischemia of mouse kidney.

Artery occlusion of an organ results in ischemia. When the occlusion is opened and blood flow reinstated there will be tissue injuries identified as reperfusion-induced ischemia (RII). It has been suggested that cannabinoids (CBs) may be involved in the RII. In this study, we assessed the effect of different doses of anandamide analogs and CB receptor agonists: arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA, a CB1 agonist) and JWH133 (a CB2 agonist) in the RII of the mouse kidney. Three doses (0.2, 1 and 5mg/kg, i.p.) of ACPA or JWH133 were used 30min prior initiation of RII. Kidneys were removed 2 and 24h following RII and checked histologically for the grading of ischemic injury. Appropriate control groups were used as well. RII produced lesion comparable with that of ischemia. Different doses of ACPA or JWH133 prevented RII-induced lesions. It is suggestive of the CB system involvement in the kidney RII in mice.