Material and Methods: Mid-gestational sera were obtained from allogenic pregnant Balb/c mice (Balb/c

C57BL/6) on days 9-11 of gestation. Splenic DC were purified from Balb/c mice, and treated with mid-pregnancy mouse serum. Antigen pulsed DC were injected into mice palms. After 5 days, draining lymph nodes were removed, cultured in the presence of cognate antigen, and proliferation of responding cells was measured by H-3-thymidin incorporation. Interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by stimulated lymph node antigen-specific cells was also measured in culture supernatants using sandwich ELISA.

Results: Treatment of DC with pregnant mouse serum markedly blocked their ability to induce antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-10 production by primed lymph node VEGFR inhibitor MLN2238 cells in comparison with non-pregnant serum-treated DC.

Conclusion: Pregnant

mouse serum has an inhibitory effect on DC capacity to induce antigen-specific proliferation and cytokine secretion by lymph node cells. The suppressive effects of pregnant serum on DC could be considered as one of the mechanisms responsible for the systemic immunomodulation observed during pregnancy.”
“Objective: This study evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) and proposed modifications for kidney donation surgery. From February 1997 to February 2011, 1510 LDNs were performed. Patients and Methods: Surgical modifications included a modified open access technique for entry into the abdominal cavity, using vascular clips for safe and cost-effective

control of the renal pedicle, control of the lumbar veins, and adrenal vein using bipolar cautery instead of clips, and leaving the gonadal vein intact with the ureter. Kidneys were extracted by hand through a Pfannenstiel incision. Heparin was not used after the first 300 cases to prevent potential hemorrhagic complications. Results: Although three major vascular injuries occurred using the AZD9291 mouse closed access method that were managed successfully, no access-related complications occurred using the modified open access technique. Clip failure did not happen in any cases. Patient and graft survival at 1 year post-transplantation were 96.5% and 95.5%, respectively, and at 5 years post-transplantation were 95.3% and 89.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed surgical modifications are based on 14 years of experience and 1510 cases, and make LDN simple, safe, and cost-effective. The excellent recipient and graft outcomes with minimal morbidity obtained further confirm that LDN can be considered as the gold standard for kidney donation surgery.”
“OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rifapentine (RPT) vs. rifampicin (RMP) for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).