Prospective randomized controlled trial comparing treatment efficacy and tolerance of picosecond alexandrite laser with a diffractive lens array and triple combination cream in female asian patients with melasma.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests melasma to be a photoaging disorder. Triple combination creams (TCC: fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, hydroquinone 4% and tretinoin 0.05%) remain the gold standard treatment. Picosecond alexandrite laser treatment using a diffractive lens array (DLA) has been identified to be effective for improving photoaging conditions. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerance of the picosecond alexandrite laser with those of DLA and TCC in female Asian patients with melasma. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to group A1 (3 laser sessions at 4-week intervals), A2 (5 laser sessions at 4-week intervals) or B (TCC daily for at least 8 weeks and then tapered until the final evaluation). The Melasma Area, Severity Index (MASI) score and VISIA were assessed at baseline, week 12 and week 20. By week 20, the follow-up periods for groups A1 and A2 were 3 months and 1 month, respectively. RESULTS: Nine, 11 and 6 participants in groups A1, A2 and B completed the study, respectively. MASI scores were significantly improved in all 3 groups at weeks 12 and 20. In groups A1, A2 and B, the improvement rates at week 20 were 53%, 38% and 50%, respectively. VISIA® analysis additionally revealed a significant improvement in spots, porphyria, pores and brown spots after 3 laser sessions (P < 0.05). Group A2 showed greater improvements than group A1 in terms of spots, wrinkles and pores; however, only red areas were significantly different (P < 0.001). All side-effects in the 3 groups were transient and gradually subsided after 1-3 months. CONCLUSION: Picosecond alexandrite laser treatment using DLA showed comparable efficacy with TCC for the treatment of melasma. Improvements in texture, spots, wrinkles and pores were observed in the laser groups. Patients with melasma lesions that exhibit telangiectasia may benefit from additional laser treatment sessions.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the risk of tuberculosis disease.

BACKGROUND: As Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an aerobic microbe, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could trigger progression from latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) to active tuberculosis (TB) disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of HBOT on TB reactivation. DESIGN: Our study sample was from the National Health Insurance Research Database containing one million beneficiaries. We identified a group of patients who underwent HBOT, and matched this group with individuals without HBOT. We compared the incidence of activation of TB between these two groups. RESULTS: A total of 2258 patients were identified, with each group comprising 1129 patients. One year after exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, the number of cases of active TB was significantly higher in the HBOT group than in the non-HBOT group (11 cases vs. 1 case, P = 0.006). Multiple regression analysis showed that HBOT was the only statistically significant contributor to TB activation. CONCLUSION: HBOT is likely to trigger the reactivation of TB. High-risk patients should undergo the tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assays before HBOT to identify patients with LTBI.

Electro-acupuncture at ST37 and ST25 induce different effects on colonic motility via the enteric nervous system by affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of the importance of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in gastrointestinal motility, we hypothesized that the ENS may mediate the therapeutic efficacy of electro-acupuncture (EA) in constipation by regulating the mechanisms underlying the effects of EA on gastrointestinal function. METHODS: Model mice with constipation were generated by gastric instillation of 0-4°C normal saline. Defecation time and stool (form and wet and dry weight) were assessed. The effect of EA at ST37 or ST25 on colorectal motility and proximal colonic motility was assessed using a water-filled balloon. The expression of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), the cholinergic neuron marker acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the anticholinergic neuron marker nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was detected by immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. KEY RESULTS: ST37 and ST25 improved colorectal pressure; however, ST37 but not ST25 improved proximal colonic pressure. In the proximal colon, the expression of PGP9.5 returned to normal after EA at ST 37, while EA at ST25 did not have this effect. In addition, qPCR and western blot analysis showed that ST37 could downregulate the expression of nNOS and upregulate the expression of ChAT to normal levels, while ST25 could only downregulate the expression of nNOS to normal levels. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Electro-acupuncture at specific acupoints can improve intestinal motility in constipation by altering the ENS and differentially affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons, restoring the coordination between contraction and relaxation muscles, and working in concert with the central nervous system and peripheral neural pathways.

Y-box binding protein 1 expression in gastric cancer subtypes and association with cancer neovasculature

Purpose. Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) expression in cancer cells is closely associated with malignant progression and poor prognosis in various cancers. Recently, we demonstrated that YB-1 expression in cancer cells is an immunomarker for patient prognosis and liver metastasis of gastric cancer (GC), and identified YB-1 as an excellent biomarker of angiogenic and proliferating endothelial cells in cancers. We further explored the expression patterns of YB-1 in gastric vasculature and the relationship with the clinical pathologic characteristics, as well as YB-1 phenotype in cancer cells. Methods/Patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of YB-1 was performed using 163 surgically resected primary GC specimens. Results. YB-1 expression in cancer cells significantly differed with respect to Lauren type, JGCA classification, vascular invasion (VI), and microvessel density (MVD) of cancers (P = 0.018, P = 0.002, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between cancer-cell YB-1 expression and TNM stage or lymphatic invasion. However, YB-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells significantly correlated with N stage, M stage, TNM stage, and MVD of cancers (P < 0.001, P = 0.013, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Notably, cases with YB-1 expression in cancer vasculature also demonstrated YB-1 expression in cancer cells (P = 0.040). Conclusions. YB-1 may promote GC development through its function in both cancer cells and cancer vascular cells, and thus represent a potential biomarker in this disease (AU)

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Y-box binding protein 1 expression in gastric cancer subtypes and association with cancer neovasculature.

PURPOSE: Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) expression in cancer cells is closely associated with malignant progression and poor prognosis in various cancers. Recently, we demonstrated that YB-1 expression in cancer cells is an immunomarker for patient prognosis and liver metastasis of gastric cancer (GC), and identified YB-1 as an excellent biomarker of angiogenic and proliferating endothelial cells in cancers. We further explored the expression patterns of YB-1 in gastric vasculature and the relationship with the clinical pathologic characteristics, as well as YB-1 phenotype in cancer cells. METHODS/PATIENTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of YB-1 was performed using 163 surgically resected primary GC specimens. RESULTS: YB-1 expression in cancer cells significantly differed with respect to Lauren type, JGCA classification, vascular invasion (VI), and microvessel density (MVD) of cancers (P = 0.018, P = 0.002, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between cancer-cell YB-1 expression and TNM stage or lymphatic invasion. However, YB-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells significantly correlated with N stage, M stage, TNM stage, and MVD of cancers (P < 0.001, P = 0.013, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Notably, cases with YB-1 expression in cancer vasculature also demonstrated YB-1 expression in cancer cells (P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: YB-1 may promote GC development through its function in both cancer cells and cancer vascular cells, and thus represent a potential biomarker in this disease.

Left circumflex coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula as the exclusive collateral to the occluded left anterior descending artery.

A 64 year-old male presented with a five month history of effort angina. Non-invasive studies demonstrated preserved left ventricular function and a modest stress-induced myocardial perfusion defect at the anterior wall. Coronary angiography revealed occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with its distal segment well supplied by collaterals branching from a left circumflex-to-main pulmonary artery fistula. The occluded left anterior descending coronary artery was recanalised by percutaneous interventions, the collaterals vanished immediately, and the patient lived free of symptoms for the following five months.

Intra-articular injection of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor meloxicam (Mobic) reduces experimental osteoarthritis and nociception in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of intra-articular injection of meloxicam (Mobic) on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in rats and examine concomitant changes in nociceptive behavior and the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in articular cartilage chondrocytes. METHODS: OA was induced in Wistar rats by right anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT); the left knee was not treated. The OA + meloxicam (1.0 mg) group was injected intra-articularly in the ACLT knee with 1.0 mg of meloxicam once a week for 5 consecutive weeks starting 5 weeks after ACLT. The OA + meloxicam (0.25 mg) group was treated similarly with 0.25 mg meloxicam. The sham group underwent arthrotomy only and received vehicle of 0.1 mL sterile 0.9% saline injections, whereas the naive rats in meloxicam-only groups were treated similarly with 1.0- and 0.25-mg meloxicam. Nociception was measured as secondary mechanical allodynia and hind paw weight-bearing distribution at before (pre-) and 5, 10, 15, and 20 weeks post-ACLT. Histopathology of the cartilage and synovia was examined 20 weeks after ACLT. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine the effect of meloxicam on MAPKs (p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)) expression in the articular cartilage chondrocytes. RESULTS: OA rats receiving intra-articular meloxicam treatment showed significantly less cartilage degeneration and synovitis than saline-treated controls. Nociception were improved in the OA + meloxicam groups compared with the OA group. Moreover, meloxicam attenuated p38 and JNK but enhanced ERK expression in OA-affected cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular injection of meloxicam (1) attenuates the development of OA, (2) concomitantly reduces nociception, and (3) modulates chondrocyte metabolism, possibly through inhibition of cellular p38 and JNK, but enhances ERK expression.

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase 3 independently predicts high-grade tumours and poor prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) family of enzymes regulates the initial steps of mucin-type O-glycosylation. N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases might show novel patterns of GalNAc-T glycosylation on tumour-derived proteins, which could influence cancer biology, but its mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the association of GalNAc-T3 and -T6 expressions with clinicopathological features and prognoses of patients with renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). METHODS: Expressions of GalNAc-T3/6 and cell-adhesion molecules were analysed immunohistochemically in 254 paraffin-embedded tumour samples of patients with RCC. RESULTS: Of 138 GalNAc-T3+ cases, 46 revealed significant co-expression with GalNAc-T6. N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases-3+ expression showed a close relationship to poor clinical performance and large tumour size, or pathologically high Fuhrman's grading, and presence of vascular invasion and necrosis. The GalNAc-T3-positivity potentially suppressed adhesive effects with a significantly low ß-catenin expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed the GalNAc-T3+ group, but not the GalNAc-T6+ group, to have significantly worse survival rates. CONCLUSION: N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases-3 expression independently predicts high-grade tumour and poor prognosis in patients with RCC, and may offer a therapeutic target against RCC.

A 90-day subchronic toxicity study of neem oil, a Azadirachta indica oil, in mice.

To determine the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of exposure and target organs of neem oil for establishing safety criteria for human exposure, the subchronic toxicity study with neem oil in mice was evaluated. The mice (10 per sex for each dose) was orally administered with neem oil with the doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 177, 533 and 1600 mg/kg/day for 90 days. After the treatment period, observation of reversibility or persistence of any toxic effects, mice were continuously fed without treatment for the following 30 days. During the two test periods, the serum biochemistry, organ weight and histopathology were examined. The results showed that the serum biochemistry and organ coefficient in experimental groups had no statistical difference compared with those of the control group. At the 90th day, the histopathological examinations showed that the 1600 mg/kg/day dose of neem oil had varying degrees of damage on each organ except heart, uterus and ovarian. After 30-day recovery, the degree of lesions to the tissues was lessened or even restored. The NOAEL of neem oil was 177 mg/kg/day for mice and the target organs of neem oil were determined to be testicle, liver and kidneys.

Heme oxygenase-1 expression and its significance for acute rejection following kidney transplantation in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze rejection and antiapoptotic effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in kidney transplantations, to investigate the protective effects of endogenous HO-1 induced by hemin on acute rat kidney allograft rejection. METHODS: We selected 27 Brown-Norway rats and 27 male Lewis rats as donors and recipients, respectively, randomly dividing them into three groups: kidney transplantation alone, hemin treatment group, and cyclosporine (CsA) group (n = 18). Six recipient rats were harvested on the first, fifth, or seventh days after operation among each group to examine histopathologic changes in renal tissue, HO-1 protein expression, and acute rejection as well as to measure serum creatinine values. RESULTS: HO-1 expression in both the kidney transplantation model group and the hemin-induced groups were higher compared with the CsA group (P < .05-.01). The expression increased with the aggravation of rejection; the expression in the CsA group also increased after transplantation but was obviously lower than that of the hemin-induced group (P < .01). The rejection process was relatively mild as indenset by histopathologic examination. The serum creatinine levels among the hemin-induced group were lower compared to the kidney transplantation control group (P < .05), but higher compared to the CsA group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: HO-1 provided protection of allografts against rejection in rats, but such effects were poorer than those achieved using potent immunosuppressive agents like CsA.

Late proximal coronary artery stenosis complicating percutaneous endovascular catheterisation procedures.

BACKGROUND: Late-onset proximal coronary artery stenosis caused by preceding percutaneous catheterisation procedures remains under-surveyed. METHODS: From 1993, all patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures and a second session within 3 years were included except those ever treated by coronary bypass surgery or chest radiotherapy during this 3-year period. Emergence of a new lesion or worsening of an initially insignificant lesion to >50% of diameter stenosis at the never-treated ostial/proximal coronary segment on the follow-up angiogram was defined as late coronary stenosis caused by the previous catheterisation procedure and was analysed. RESULTS: From January 1993 to December 2005, 3240 patients who underwent 5025 procedures met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 23 patients experienced an event of late coronary artery stenosis (overall incidence 0.46%), and interventional procedures, specifically shaped catheters (Voda, XB, Amplatz Left) and atherosclerosis vulnerability correlated with risks of adverse events. Most of these events could be managed by contemporary medical, interventional, or surgical strategies, yet hazards of mortality and long-term restenosis still existed from this catheter-induced complication. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous catheterisation procedures could be complicated by late proximal coronary artery stenosis. Thus, when conducting these procedures, operators should select and manipulate catheters with caution, especially in patients with susceptible clinical characteristics.

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 6 expression in pancreatic cancer is an independent prognostic factor indicating better overall survival.

BACKGROUND: The family of polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) is responsible for the altered glycosylation in cancer. The purpose of our study was to investigate the clinical significance of two isoforms, GalNAc-T6 and -T3, and their correlation with the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyse GalNAc-T6 and -T3 expressions in 70 clinicopathologically characterised pancreatic cancer cases. RESULTS: Positive expressions of GalNAc-T6 and -T3 were immunohistochemically identified in 51% (36 of 70) and in 77% (54 of 70) of patients, respectively. A close relationship was noted between GalNAc-T6 positive expression and pathological well/moderate differentiated type (P=0.001), small tumour size (P=0.044), absence of vascular invasion (P=0.009), and low stage of the American Joint Committee on Cancer systems (P=0.043). The expression of GalNAc-T3 significantly correlated with good differentiation (P=0.001), but not with other clinicopathologic features. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that GalNAc-T6 expression was an independent prognosis indicator for the disease, whereas GalNAc-T3 expression had no impact on clinical outcome, even though 33 of 36 GalNAc-T6-positive cases also had a positive expression of GalNAc-T3 (P=0.001, r=0.356). CONCLUSION: Both GalNAc-T6 and -T3 expressions correlated significantly with tumour differentiation, whereas only GalNAc-T6 expression predicted prognosis in pancreatic cancer.

Analysis of thrombin-antithrombin complex contents in plasma and hematoma fluid of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage patients after clot removal.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Animal experiments indicate that the cerebral thrombin is associated with secondary brain damage after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study was aimed to investigate the concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) in hematoma fluid and plasma of the patients with ICH after surgery and analyze the correlation between TAT complex levels and severity of ICH. METHODS: Sixty patients with ICH were enrolled. Craniotomy for removal of intracranial blood clot was performed within 24h after ICH. Hematoma fluid and plasma were collected on postoperative days 1, 2, and 4. The plasma obtained from healthy subjects and cerebrospinal fluid from patients without cerebrovascular diseases served as controls, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the concentrations of TAT complex in the patients and controls. RESULTS: TAT complex concentrations in both postoperative plasma and hematoma fluid of patients with ICH were significantly higher than those of the controls (P<0.01). In patients with ICH, hematoma fluid had a higher TAT complex level than plasma (P<0.01). The preoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative TAT complex levels in plasma and hematoma fluid correlated positively with National Institutes of Health stroke scale and negatively with Glasgow coma score (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that TAT complex levels of plasma and hematoma fluid correlate positively with the severity of ICH. Determination of the plasma TAT complex concentration is helpful for the evaluation of the severity of post-ICH brain injury.

Health-related quality of life and marital quality of vitiligo patients in China.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo can adversely affect the quality of life and sexual relationships of patients. Combination of the DLQI with the generic SF-36 and ENRICH may give further insight in the evaluation of the burden in vitiligo patients. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and marital quality of Chinese vitiligo patients and to identify the relevant clinical and socio-demographic determinants. METHODS: A total of 101 vitiligo patients and 126 healthy controls completed the questionnaires. HRQoL was measured using DLQI and SF-36, and marital quality was measured using the ENRICH marital inventory. RESULTS: Patients with vitiligo experienced significantly impaired health-related quality of life and unstable marital relationships. Gender, distribution pattern of vitiligo and disease severity were independent predictors of DLQI, SF-36 and ENRICH in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Vitiligo is associated with impairment of HRQoL and marital quality among Chinese patients. Alongside the medical interventions, the psychological and sociocultural assessment and intervention should be an essential part of the management of these cases.

Spin-transfer-torque-assisted domain-wall creep in a Co/Pt multilayer wire.

We have studied field- and current-driven domain-wall (DW) creep motion in a perpendicularly magnetized Co/Pt multilayer wire by real-time Kerr microscopy. The application of a dc current of density of approximately < 10(7) A/cm2 assisted only the DW creeping under field in the same direction as the electron flow, a signature of spin-transfer torque effects. We develop a model dealing with both bidirectional spin-transfer effects and Joule heating, with the same dynamical exponent mu=1/4 for both field- and current-driven creep, and use it to quantify the spin-transfer efficiency as 3.6+/-0.6 Oe cm2/MA in our wires, confirming the significant nonadiabatic contribution to the spin torque.

Impact of chronic advanced aortic regurgitation on the perioperative outcome of noncardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Whether and how chronic advanced aortic regurgitation (AR) impacts the perioperative outcome of noncardiac surgery remains unclear. METHODS: From November 1999 to December 2006, all patients undergoing noncardiac operations and ever examined by echocardiography within the last 6 months were screened. Those with chronic moderate-severe or severe AR were enrolled, provided they were not already trachea-intubated or aortic valve operated, and the surgery was not performed under local anesthesia. Case-matched subjects without significant AR served as controls. The perioperative outcomes of these patients were analyzed, and independent prognostic correlates were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients (male 131, mean age of 75 years) complying with the enrollment criteria were studied. Compared with the other 167 case-matched control peers, patients with advanced AR risked potential hazards of serious hemodynamic instability (0.6%) and circulatory collapse (1.2%) during surgery despite the similar incidence of overall cardiac adverse events, and were further distressed with more cardiopulmonary complications (16.2% vs. 5.4%, P=0.003) and in-hospital deaths (9% vs. 1.8%, P=0.008) post-operatively. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the correlation of advanced AR with perioperative mortality, and identified depressed left ventricular function, renal dysfunction, high surgical risk, and lack of cardiac medication as predictors of in-hospital death. CONCLUSION: Chronic advanced AR complicates the perioperative outcome of noncardiac surgery as reflected by frequent cardiopulmonary morbidities and in-hospital deaths, especially when coexisting with specified high-risk clinical and surgical characteristics.

A standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba suppresses doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and p53-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis in rat testes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Doxorubicin evokes oxidative stress and precipitates cell apoptosis in testicular tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (EGb), a widely used herbal medicine with potent anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, could protect testes from such doxorubicin injury. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Sprague-Dawley male rats (8 weeks old) were given vehicle, doxorubicin alone (3 mg kg(-1) every 2 days for three doses), EGb alone (5 mg kg(-1) every 2 days for three doses), or EGb followed by doxorubicin (each dose administered 1 day after EGb). At 7 days after the first drug treatment oxidative and apoptotic testicular toxicity was evaluated by biochemical, histological and flow cytometric analyses. KEY RESULTS: Compared with controls, testes from doxorubicin-treated rats displayed impaired spermatogenesis, depleted haploid germ cell subpopulations, increased lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde), depressed antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione), reduced antioxidant enzyme expression (superoxide dismutase) and elevated apoptotic indexes (pro-apoptotic modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, intensification of p53 and Apaf-1, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3 and increase of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labelling/sub-haploid cells), while EGb pretreatment effectively alleviated all of these doxorubicin-induced abnormalities in testes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results demonstrate that EGb protected against the oxidative and apoptotic actions of doxorubicin on testes. EGb may be a promising adjuvant therapy medicine, potentially ameliorating testicular toxicity of this anti-neoplastic agent in clinical practice.

Adjuvant effects of bacillus Calmette-Guerin DNA or CpG-oligonucleotide in the immune response to Taenia solium cysticercosis vaccine in porcine.

The immune stimulation properties of CpG-oligonucleotides (CpG-ODN) containing a central unmethylated CpG motif could be useful for vaccination against parasite infection. However, the high cost of synthetic CpG-ODN has limited its use in veterinary vaccines. In this study, we investigated whether genomic DNA derived from Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG-DNA) could be used as an effective adjuvant to enhance the immunogenicity and the protective capacity of recombinant cC1 antigen (rcC1) against pig cysticercosis. Pigs were vaccinated with rcC1 plus CpG-containing DNA adjuvants (BCG-DNA or CpG-ODN) or rcC1 alone. Immunization with rcC1 alone induced a Th1-biased response, whereas coadministration of rcC1 with BCG-DNA or CpG-ODN increased levels of IgG2, IFN-gamma, percentage of CD8+ and specific proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Four weeks after the last immunization, pigs were infected with Taenia solium eggs. A high level of protection (81%) was induced by rcC1 immunization that was not significantly increased by the CpG-containing DNA. These data indicate that coadministration of rcC1 plus BCG-DNA or CpG-ODN significantly enhanced Th1 response but did not improve the level of the protection induced.