T lymphocytes regulate the initiation, duration, and magnitude of adaptive immune responses and function as effector cells in cell mediated immunity. To become immunologically competent they must generate functional antigen receptors. This process takes place in the thymus and requires somatic recombination of T cell receptor (TCR) genes. It is mediated by the endonucleases recombination activating gene-1 (RAG1) and RAG2. Although the thymus regresses at puberty, T cells are present throughout life implying that other tissues must provide the proper milieu for T cell development. This thesis describes extrathymic T cell maturation in man. RAG1, RAG2, and the preTα-chain (pTα), which is exclusively utilized in developing T cells, were used as markers for TCR gene rearrangement. Two new exons (1A and 1B) encoding sequences in the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of mRNA were discovered in the human RAG1 gene. The previously described 5’UTR exon (renamed 1C) was located between the new exons and exon 2, the latter containing the entire coding sequence. We found that small intestinal lymphocytes of the T cell lineage expressed the new exons in three different splice forms. RAG1 mRNA containing the 1C exon was not expressed in small intestinal lymphocytes. In contrast, splice forms containing the 1A exon were not expressed in thymocytes. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing lymphocytes were seen both within the epithelium and in lamina propria. Thymocyte-like CD2+CD7+CD3-, CD4+CD8+, CD1a+, and IL7-R+ lymphocytes were identified in the small intestinal mucosa. CD2+CD7+CD3- cells had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1 and pTα, suggesting that the small intestinal mucosa is indeed a site for T cell maturation. Small intestinal T lymphocytes were also shown to kill via the Fas/FasL pathway in a TCR/CD3 independent manner and via the perforin/granzyme pathway in a TCR/CD3 dependent manner. The Fas/FasL-mediated cytotoxicity may reflect an ongoing selection process of extrathymically maturated T cells. The nasopharyngeal tonsil is the major inductive site for immune reactions against inhaled antigens. Previous demonstration of RAG1 expression in tonsillar B cells was interpreted as antigen driven receptor revision. The present study confirms the expression of RAG1 in B cells. We also found that RAG1, RAG2, and pTa mRNAs were expressed in lymphocytes of the T cell lineage. A small population of cells with the immature phenotype CD2+CD7+CD3- was demonstrated. This population had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1, RAG2, pTα and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. All four splice-forms of RAG1 mRNA were expressed. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing cells were mainly located in the proximity of the surface epithelium and in the outer rim of the follicles. These results suggest that the nasopharyngeal tonsil is a site where extrathymic T cell development and antigen driven TCR revision are occurring in parallel. Celiac disease (CD) is a small intestinal enteropathy characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten. Gluten reactive intestinal T cells are central in the pathogenesis and CD can be regarded as a failure to maintain tolerance to this food antigen. Expression of the RAG1 1A/2 splice form was significantly decreased in small intestinal T cell subsets of CD patients suggesting that impaired TCR gene rearrangement could contribute to failure of maintain tolerance in CD. Together, these findings show that both small intestinal and nasopharyngeal tonsillar lymphocytes of T cell lineage have the molecular machinery for antigen receptor rearrangement and that thymocyte-like lymphocytes are present in both tissues. Thus these organs are likely sites of T lymphocyte ontogeny as well as for secondary T cell receptor rearrangement in man.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-01-11T10:54:50Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Robmary Matias de Almeida - 2017.pdf: 3556874 bytes, checksum: 27db72af224144cb18266e9f23af2021 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-01-11T10:55:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Robmary Matias de Almeida - 2017.pdf: 3556874 bytes, checksum: 27db72af224144cb18266e9f23af2021 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-11T10:55:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Robmary Matias de Almeida - 2017.pdf: 3556874 bytes, checksum: 27db72af224144cb18266e9f23af2021 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-26 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and Haemophilus haemolyticus (Hhae) are important microorganisms present in human nasopharyngeal colonization, with rates varying according to locality, sampling frequency, individual and social factors. Hi is a pathological agent that causes diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and otitis media, which presents in encapsulated forms with six serotypes a, b, c, d, e, f, and uncapsulated or non-typeable (HiNT). Hhae is a nasopharyngeal comensal and rarely causes invasive diseases. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Hi and Hhae in children under five years of age attending public day care centers in the city of Goiânia-GO, to determine the circulating serotypes, to analyze the risk factors associated with the nasopharyngeal carrige, as well as to characterize the antimicrobial resistance of Hi. Were analyzed 1.188 nasopharynx swabs from healthy children between 36 and 59 months of age from October to December 2010. The samples were submitted to bacterial culture for the isolation of Haemophilus spp. For the identification of the species, the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (TR-PCR) was used. Serotyping, as well as detection of the bla TEM-1 and bla ROB-1 resistance genes, was performed through the conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction. Phenotypic detection for β-lactamase production was performed by the chromogenic cephalosporin test. The database was constructed with the statistical software SPSS (Chicago, IL, USA) version 18.0. Risk factors, children aged 3 years, low maternal schooling and three or more children under 10 years of age living in the same household of the child recruited in the study were evaluated by multivariate Poisson regression. The prevalence of Hi carriers was 54.4% (646 / 1.188), 0.9% (n = 11) of the serotype e, 0.9% (n = 11) of serotype f, 0.2% (n = 2) serotype a, 0.08% (n = 1) serotype d, 0.0% (n = 0) serotype b and c and 52.3% (621 / 1.188) of HiNT. The prevalence of Hhae was 1.2% (14 / 1.188). Among the encapsulated Hi, the prevalence of the bla TEM-1 gene was 4.0% (1/25) and the bla ROB-1 gene was 4.0% (1/25). Among the 20% (124/621) of HiNT analysed, the prevalence of the bla TEM-1 gene was 13,7% (17/124) and the prevalence of the bla TEM-1 gene was 1,6% (2/124). Continuous surveillance of Haemophilus spp. as a colonizer, is necessary to evaluate its transmission and dissemination in the population where there is a higher risk of invasive disease, to control Hib re-emergence after the vaccinacion and to continue to monitor antimicrobial resistance. / Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) e Haemophilus haemolyticus (Hhae) são importantes microrganismos presentes na colonização nasofaríngea humana, com taxas que variam de acordo com a localidade, frequência de amostragem, fatores individuais e sociais. O Hi é um agente patológico causador de doenças como meningite, pneumonia, sepse e otite média que se apresenta sob as formas capsuladas com seis sorotipos a, b, c, d, e, f, e não capsuladas ounão tipáveis (HiNT). O Hhae é comensal nasofaríngeo e raramente causa doenças invasivas. O objetivo do estudo foi estimar a prevalência de Hi e Hhae em crianças menores de cinco anos de idade que frequentam creches públicas no município de Goiânia-GO, determinar os sorotipos circulantes, analisar os fatores de risco associados ao portador nasofaríngeo, bem como caracterizar a resistência antimicrobiana dos Hi. Foram analisados 1.188 swabs de nasofaringe de crianças saudáveis entre 36 e 59 meses de idade, no período de outubro a dezembro de 2010. As amostras foram submetidas à cultura bacteriana para o isolamento do Haemophilus spp. Para identificação da espécie foi utilizada a Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (PCR-TR). A sorotipagem, assim como a detecção dos genes de resistência bla TEM-1 e bla ROB-1 , foi realizada através da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase convencional. A detecção fenotípica para produção da β-lactamase foi executada pelo teste da cefalosporina cromogênica. A base de dados foi construída com o programa estatístico SPSS (Chicago, IL, USA) versão 18.0. Os fatores de risco, crianças com idade de 3 anos, baixa escolaridade da mãe e três ou mais crianças menores de 10 anos de idade convivendo no mesmo domicilio da criança recrutada no estudo, foram avaliados por regressão de Poisson multivariada. A prevalência de portador do Hi foi de 54,4% (646/1.188) sendo 0,9% (n=11) do sorotipo e, 0,9% (n=11) do sorotipo f, 0,2% (n=2) do sorotipo a, 0,08%(n=1) do sorotipo d, 0,0% (n=0) dos sorotipos b e c e 52,3% (621/1.188) de HiNT. A prevalência do Hhae foi de 1,2% (14/1.188). Entre os Hi encapsulados a prevalência do gene bla TEM-1 foi de 4,0% (1/25) e do gene bla ROB-1 foi de 4,0% (1/25). Em 20% (124/621) dos HiNT, a prevalência do gene bla TEM-1 foi de 13,7% (17/124) e do gene bla ROB-1 de 1,6% (2/124). A vigilância contínua do Haemophilus spp. como colonizador, se faz necessária para avaliar sua transmissão e disseminação na população onde há maior risco de incidência de doenças invasivas, controlar a re-emergência do Hib após a vacinação e continuar monitorando a resistência antimicrobiana.

by Chiu Yuk Lan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-133). / Abstract also in Chinese. / TABLE OF CONTENTS / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.a / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.b / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Cancer in Food-service Workers --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Carcinogenicity of Cooking Fumes --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- High Risk of Lung Cancer in Chinese Women --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Why do We Conduct This Study? --- p.3 / Chapter 1.5 --- Implication of This Study --- p.4 / Chapter 1.6 --- What Types of Cancer were Included in This Study? --- p.4 / Chapter 1.7 --- Aims and Hypothesis of This Study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.8. --- Outline of the Thesis --- p.5 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1. --- Occupational Epidemiological Studies --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Studies of occupation and cancer occurrence based on routine records --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Retrospective cohort studies among food service workers --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Case-control studies --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Case reports --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Summary --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2. --- Mutagens and Carcinogens in Cooking Fumes --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Mutagens and carcinogens in cooking fumes --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODS --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1 --- Study Design --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Study Population and Subjects --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3 --- Reference Population --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Sample Size Estimation --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5 --- Data Sources and Data Collection --- p.49 / Chapter 3.6 --- Data Processing --- p.53 / Chapter 3.7 --- Data Analyses --- p.54 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Standardised proportional mortality ratio (SPMR) --- p.54 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Adjusted' SPMRs --- p.56 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Mortality odds ratio (MOR) --- p.58 / Chapter 3.8. --- Exploring if Smoking could be a Confounding Factor --- p.62 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1 --- Characteristics of the Food-service Workers --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2 --- Cancer Mortality Patterns of Food-service Workers --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3 --- Adjusted SPMRs --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4 --- Mortality Odds Ratios (MORs) --- p.76 / Chapter 4.5 --- Mortality Odds Ratios Using Multiply Reference Diseases --- p.77 / Chapter 4.6. --- Comparing SPMRs with MORs --- p.82 / Chapter 4.7. --- Internal Comparison --- p.83 / Chapter 4.8 --- Summary of Results --- p.90 / Chapter 4.9. --- Survey on Smoking and Drinking Prevalence among Current Food-service Workers --- p.92 / Chapter 4.9.1 --- Smoking habit --- p.92 / Chapter 4.9.2 --- Drinking habit --- p.94 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS --- p.95 / Chapter 5.1 --- Outcomes for This Study --- p.95 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Cancer risks for the kitchen workers --- p.96 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Cancer risks for the outside kitchen workers --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations of the Methods Adopted in the Present study --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Standardised proportional mortality ratio (SPMR) --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Morality odds ratio (MOR) --- p.109 / Chapter 5.3 --- Bias and Control --- p.111 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Selection bias --- p.111 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Information bias --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Confounding --- p.116 / Chapter 5.4 --- Implications from the Results of the Present Study --- p.117 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusion --- p.119 / APPENDIX --- p.121 / Appendix 1 --- p.121 / Appendix 2 --- p.123 / Appendix 3 --- p.124 / Appendix 4 --- p.125 / REFERENCES --- p.127

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes infectados pelo HIV apresentam maior risco de doença pneumocócica invasiva com maior mortalidade que a população geral. Estratégias para redução da carga de doença pneumocócica são importantes. A vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente é recomendada para adultos infectados pelo HIV, entretanto, a imunogenicidade desta vacina nessa população ainda é discutível. A vacina antipneumocócica ideal e o regime vacinal de maior eficácia ainda são controversos na literatura. Os poucos estudos publicados com vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente em adultos infectados pelo HIV apresentam resultados discrepantes. Esse estudo visa comparar a resposta de anticorpos e a reatogenicidade de três esquemas diferentes de vacina antipneumocócica, em adultos infectados pelo HIV; e avaliar o impacto da vacinação no estado de colonização da nasofaringe. MÉTODOS: ensaio clínico randomizado e duplo-cego, envolvendo 331 pacientes infectados pelo HIV, de 18 a 60 anos de idade, com contagem de linfócitos T-CD4 acima de 200 cél/mm3. Os pacientes foram alocados em grupos de duas intervenções com intervalos de 60 dias entre elas: a) vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente + placebo; b) vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente + placebo; c) vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente + vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente. A imunogenicidade das vacinas foi determinada através da reação de ELISA para sorotipos 6B, 9V e 14, realizadas no momento pré-vacinal, 60 dias e 180 dias após a primeira intervenção. A reatogenicidade foi avaliada através de entrevista após cada vacinação. A colonização da nasofaringe foi avaliada antes do início da vacinação e 180 dias após. RESULTADOS: Os grupos foram similares nas características demográficas e condições associadas à infecção pelo HIV. Nos três grupos foi observado um aumento significativo dos níveis de anticorpo-IgG para todos os três sorotipos avaliados. Foi observada uma maior proporção de indivíduos que sustentaram aumento de quatro vezes ou mais na concentração de anticorpos para sorotipos 6B e 9V nos grupos que receberam PC7V na primeira vacinação. A combinação das vacinas conjugada 7-valente seguida da vacina polissacarídica 23-valente não aumentou a imunogenicidade para nenhum dos sorotipos avaliados. Ambas as vacinas foram bem toleradas, entretanto, eventos adversos sistêmicos foram mais frequentes após aplicação da vacina conjugada 7-valente. Nenhum evento grave foi reportado. O uso da vacina polissacarídica 23- valente após a aplicação da vacina conjugada 7-valente não aumentou a reatogenicidade. A colonização da nasofaringe por S.pneumoniae foi significantemente menor 180 dias após a vacinação, embora não tenha sido observada diferença entre os três grupos. CONCLUSÃO: nesse ensaio clínico conduzido em adultos brasileiros infectados pelo HIV, observamos que as vacinas antipneumocócicas polissacarídica 23-valente e conjugada 7- valente foram seguras e imunogênicas. As evidências sugerem que a vacina conjugada 7-valente foi mais imunogênica que a polissacarídica 23-valente para os sorotipos 6B e 9V. Não houve benefício da aplicação da vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente após vacina conjugada 7- valente. A vacinação antipneumocócica reduziu a colonização da nasofaringe por S.pneumoniae, independentemente do esquema vacinal aplicado / BACKGROUND: The risk and the mortality of invasive pneumococcal disease are higher in HIV-infected patients than in uninfected individuals. Strategy to reduce the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease is crucial. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent is recommended for HIV- adults, but its immunogenicity is still controversial. The ideal antipneumococcal vaccine and effective vaccination regimen remain controversial. Few trials with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-adults revealed disparate results. This study aims to compare antibody response and reactogenicity to three different pneumococcal vaccine schedules in HIV-infected adults, and impact of vaccine in nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae. METHODS: a randomized, blinded clinical trial was conducted in Brazil with 331 HIV-patients aged 18 to 60 years with CD4+ T-lymphocytes count >=200 cells/mm3. Two interventions 60 days apart were done in three schedules: a) 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine + placebo; b) 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine + placebo; and c) 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine + pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent. Immunogenicity was assessed by an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to S. pneumoniae serotypes 6B, 9V and 14, performed at baseline, 60 and 180 days after first intervention. Reactogenicity was evaluated by individual interview. Nasopharyngeal colonization was evaluated before first dose and 180 days after. RESULTS: Demographic and HIV conditions were similar between all groups. Significant increase in IgG-antibodies was observed to all serotypes evaluated. A greater proportion of individuals who reached and sustained IgG antibody concentrations at least four times as high as those at baseline, for serotypes 6B and 9V received PC7V at first vaccination. A pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent dose after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine did not enhance immunogenicity. Both vaccines were well tolerated across vaccine groups; however, more systemic adverse events were reported after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine despite none severe events were described. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23- valent after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine did not increased reactogenicity. Nasopharyngeal colonization of S. pneumoniae 180 days after vaccination was statistically significant lower than pre-vaccination, although none difference was been observed between three groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this clinical trial conducted in Brazilian HIV-infected adults, both pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent and 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine were safe and immunogenic. Evidence suggesting 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was more immunogenic than pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent, as it elicited higher and persistent >=4-fold increase of antibodies for serotypes 6B and 9V in a greater proportion of HIV-patients, is noteworthy. No benefit of a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent dose following 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was observed. Pneumococcal vaccination reduced nasopharyngeal colonization of S.pneumoniae in this population, without statistical difference between groups

Eighty-two patients with breast cancer, twenty-seven patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and sixty-five patients with rheumatoid arthritis in this study were selected based on voluntary, randomization and double blind grouping criteria. / In nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, the decrease in percentage and the absolute count of T lymphocytes in the TCM group was significantly lower than those in the placebo group. Besides, the decrease of the absolute count of T helper and T suppressor in the TCM group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group (all p < 0.05). The decrease may be due to radiotherapy. However, there was no significant difference in plasma sIL-2R and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) between the TCM group and the placebo group. / In rheumatoid arthritis patients, there was no significant difference in plasma. C-reactive protein (CRP), in the percentage, absolute count, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+/NK/B lymphocytes between the TCM group and the placebo group. / Results showed that the absolute count of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+), the ratio of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+)/T suppressor and cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+), and the percentage and the absolute count of B lymphocytes were significantly elevated in the patients with breast cancer after taking Yunzhi-Danshen capsules, while plasma soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentration was significantly decreased (all p < 0.05). / This study shows that the selected traditional Chinese medicine have determinable immunomodulatory effects in patients with cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat chronic diseases and tumor allegedly by immunomodulatory mechanisms. Breast cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer are prevalent carcinoma diseases in Hong Kong. The immune system of such patients could be adversely affected during the course of conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the joints. The aim of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory effects of TCM Yunzhi-Danshen in auxiliary treatment of both kinds of cancer patients, and Lingzhi (Ganoderma Lucidum)-San Miao San ( Atractylodes lancea, Phellodendron amurense and Achyranthes bidentata B1) in supplementation treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. / by Bao Yixi. / "July 2005." / Adviser: Wai-Kei Lam. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0166. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-167). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes infectados pelo HIV apresentam maior risco de doença pneumocócica invasiva com maior mortalidade que a população geral. Estratégias para redução da carga de doença pneumocócica são importantes. A vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente é recomendada para adultos infectados pelo HIV, entretanto, a imunogenicidade desta vacina nessa população ainda é discutível. A vacina antipneumocócica ideal e o regime vacinal de maior eficácia ainda são controversos na literatura. Os poucos estudos publicados com vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente em adultos infectados pelo HIV apresentam resultados discrepantes. Esse estudo visa comparar a resposta de anticorpos e a reatogenicidade de três esquemas diferentes de vacina antipneumocócica, em adultos infectados pelo HIV; e avaliar o impacto da vacinação no estado de colonização da nasofaringe. MÉTODOS: ensaio clínico randomizado e duplo-cego, envolvendo 331 pacientes infectados pelo HIV, de 18 a 60 anos de idade, com contagem de linfócitos T-CD4 acima de 200 cél/mm3. Os pacientes foram alocados em grupos de duas intervenções com intervalos de 60 dias entre elas: a) vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente + placebo; b) vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente + placebo; c) vacina antipneumocócica conjugada 7-valente + vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente. A imunogenicidade das vacinas foi determinada através da reação de ELISA para sorotipos 6B, 9V e 14, realizadas no momento pré-vacinal, 60 dias e 180 dias após a primeira intervenção. A reatogenicidade foi avaliada através de entrevista após cada vacinação. A colonização da nasofaringe foi avaliada antes do início da vacinação e 180 dias após. RESULTADOS: Os grupos foram similares nas características demográficas e condições associadas à infecção pelo HIV. Nos três grupos foi observado um aumento significativo dos níveis de anticorpo-IgG para todos os três sorotipos avaliados. Foi observada uma maior proporção de indivíduos que sustentaram aumento de quatro vezes ou mais na concentração de anticorpos para sorotipos 6B e 9V nos grupos que receberam PC7V na primeira vacinação. A combinação das vacinas conjugada 7-valente seguida da vacina polissacarídica 23-valente não aumentou a imunogenicidade para nenhum dos sorotipos avaliados. Ambas as vacinas foram bem toleradas, entretanto, eventos adversos sistêmicos foram mais frequentes após aplicação da vacina conjugada 7-valente. Nenhum evento grave foi reportado. O uso da vacina polissacarídica 23- valente após a aplicação da vacina conjugada 7-valente não aumentou a reatogenicidade. A colonização da nasofaringe por S.pneumoniae foi significantemente menor 180 dias após a vacinação, embora não tenha sido observada diferença entre os três grupos. CONCLUSÃO: nesse ensaio clínico conduzido em adultos brasileiros infectados pelo HIV, observamos que as vacinas antipneumocócicas polissacarídica 23-valente e conjugada 7- valente foram seguras e imunogênicas. As evidências sugerem que a vacina conjugada 7-valente foi mais imunogênica que a polissacarídica 23-valente para os sorotipos 6B e 9V. Não houve benefício da aplicação da vacina antipneumocócica polissacarídica 23-valente após vacina conjugada 7- valente. A vacinação antipneumocócica reduziu a colonização da nasofaringe por S.pneumoniae, independentemente do esquema vacinal aplicado / BACKGROUND: The risk and the mortality of invasive pneumococcal disease are higher in HIV-infected patients than in uninfected individuals. Strategy to reduce the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease is crucial. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent is recommended for HIV- adults, but its immunogenicity is still controversial. The ideal antipneumococcal vaccine and effective vaccination regimen remain controversial. Few trials with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-adults revealed disparate results. This study aims to compare antibody response and reactogenicity to three different pneumococcal vaccine schedules in HIV-infected adults, and impact of vaccine in nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae. METHODS: a randomized, blinded clinical trial was conducted in Brazil with 331 HIV-patients aged 18 to 60 years with CD4+ T-lymphocytes count >=200 cells/mm3. Two interventions 60 days apart were done in three schedules: a) 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine + placebo; b) 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine + placebo; and c) 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine + pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent. Immunogenicity was assessed by an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to S. pneumoniae serotypes 6B, 9V and 14, performed at baseline, 60 and 180 days after first intervention. Reactogenicity was evaluated by individual interview. Nasopharyngeal colonization was evaluated before first dose and 180 days after. RESULTS: Demographic and HIV conditions were similar between all groups. Significant increase in IgG-antibodies was observed to all serotypes evaluated. A greater proportion of individuals who reached and sustained IgG antibody concentrations at least four times as high as those at baseline, for serotypes 6B and 9V received PC7V at first vaccination. A pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent dose after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine did not enhance immunogenicity. Both vaccines were well tolerated across vaccine groups; however, more systemic adverse events were reported after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine despite none severe events were described. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23- valent after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine did not increased reactogenicity. Nasopharyngeal colonization of S. pneumoniae 180 days after vaccination was statistically significant lower than pre-vaccination, although none difference was been observed between three groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this clinical trial conducted in Brazilian HIV-infected adults, both pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent and 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine were safe and immunogenic. Evidence suggesting 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was more immunogenic than pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent, as it elicited higher and persistent >=4-fold increase of antibodies for serotypes 6B and 9V in a greater proportion of HIV-patients, is noteworthy. No benefit of a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23-valent dose following 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was observed. Pneumococcal vaccination reduced nasopharyngeal colonization of S.pneumoniae in this population, without statistical difference between groups

Fong, Kwan Ying. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-103). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1: --- "Introduction, problems and objectives" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Problems --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Background --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1. --- Head and Neck Cancer --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Diagnostic Imaging of Head and Neck Cancer --- p.5 / Chapter 2.3. --- Magnetic Resonance Imaging- Physics --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Principle --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Relaxation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Tl- and T2-weighted Imaging --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy- Single Voxel Spectroscopy and Chemical Shift Imaging --- p.15 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Diffusion-weighted imaging in the evaluation head of and neck cancer --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction - Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Tumors --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2 --- DWI of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Introduction and Objectives --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Methods --- p.23 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Results --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Discussion --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3 --- DWI of Primary Tumors: Comparison of NPC with Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Extra-nodal Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Introduction and Objectives --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Results --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Discussion --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Summary of DWI in Head and Neck Cancer --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Chemical shift imaging of head and neck tumors --- p.45 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction - Single Voxel Spectroscopy and Chemical Shift Imaging --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2 --- CSI - Methods Used to Reduce Magnetic Field Inhomogeneity --- p.48 / Chapter 4.3 --- Phantom studies - CSI Experiments Using Phantoms --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Introduction and Objectives --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- Methods --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Experiment and MR Protocol --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Data Analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Phantom Experimental Results --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Discussion and Conclusion on Phantom Experiments --- p.69 / Chapter 4.4 --- In vivo CSI Study of Human Head and Neck Tumors --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Introduction and Objectives --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Patient Selection --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- MRI and CSI Protocol --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Data Analysis --- p.74 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Results from CSI on Patients --- p.74 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Discussion and Conclusion of CSI on Patients --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- "Summary, conclusion and future studies" --- p.87 / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2 --- Conclusion --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3 --- Future Studies --- p.89 / References --- p.90 / Publications --- p.104

Contexte. Les carcinomes des voies aérodigestives supérieures (VADS) arrivent en 6ème position parmi les cancers les plus fréquents au niveau mondial. La fonction du récepteur TLR3 dans les cellules de carcinomes des VADS est encore très mal comprise. Objectifs et méthodes. 1) Déterminer le niveau d’expression du récepteur TLR3 dans les lignées et les biopsies de carcinomes des VADS par western blot et par immunohistochimie. 2) Etudier le rôle de TLR3 dans la croissance tumorale de ces tumeurs, en utilisant notamment des lignées invalidées de façon conditionnelle pour TLR3. 3) Evaluer in vitro les effets cytotoxiques de ligands artificiels de TLR3 soit seuls, soit utilisés en combinaisons avec un inhibiteur d’IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein).Résultats. La protéine TLR3 est détectée à un niveau élevé en western blot dans les lignées de carcinomes des VADS étudiées, comparativement à un panel d’autres tumeurs épithéliales humaines. TLR3 est également constamment détecté en immunohistochimie dans les biopsies. TLR3 semble jouer un rôle dans la croissance tumorale des carcinomes des VADS : dans certaines conditions de culture (culture en hypoxie ou en milieu pauvre en SVF et en nutriments), la stimulation de TLR3 par un ligand exogène, le poly(A:U), favorise la croissance des cellules tumorales. Nous avons étudié l’effet de la stimulation de TLR3 sur le métabolisme glucidique dans ces mêmes cellules en utilisant un appareil de type Seahorse® qui mesure la consommation d’oxygène et la production de protons à partir de cellules cultivées en microplaques. Ces expériences montrent que la stimulation de TLR3 fait augmenter l’activité des voies du métabolisme cellulaire anaérobie (glycolyse extra-mitochondriale). Une étude métabolomique a mis en évidence des différences significatives dans le profil métabolique des cellules tumorales stimulées par le poly(A:U) comparativement aux cellules non traitées. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré que la stimulation de TLR3 permettait de détecter le facteur de transcription HIF1 en Western blot, même en conditions normoxiques. Sachant que des ARN libérés par des cellules en état de nécrose peuvent stimuler TLR3, il est tentant de penser que ce récepteur pourrait favoriser la survie des cellules malignes en zone hypoxique au voisinage de cellules nécrotiques. Néanmoins, l’expression de TLR3 représente aussi un facteur de vulnérabilité pour les cellules de carcinome des VADS : en effet les ligands artificiels de TLR3 utilisés en combinaison avec un inhibiteur d’IAP (Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein) produisent des effets cytotoxiques sur les lignées de carcinomes des VADS étudiées. / Background. Head and Neck (HN) carcinomas are the 6th most frequent type of cancer worldwide. The role of the TLR3 receptor in HN carcinomas remains poorly understood.Objectives and Methods. 1) To assess the expression level of TLR3 in HN carcinoma cell lines and biopsies by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. 2) To study the role of TLR3 in tumour growth using specific cell lines with conditional knock-down of TLR3. 3). To assess in vitro the cytotoxic effects of artificial ligands of TLR3 used either alone or in combination with an IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor.Results. TLR3 protein was detected at a high level by Western blot analysis in HN carcinoma cell lines, by comparison with a panel of other human epithelial cancer cell lines. TLR3 was also consistently detected by immunohistochemistry in tumour biopsies. TLR3 seem to play a role in HN carcinoma cell growth: under certain culture conditions (hypoxic or low fetal calf serum/low nutrient culture conditions), TLR3 stimulation by a synthetic ligand, the poly(A:U), favours tumour cell growth. We investigated the effects of TLR3 stimulation on glucose metabolism using a Seahorse® analyzer, which measures the oxygen consumption and the proton production in living cells. Our results indicate that TLR3 stimulation induces an increase in anaerobic metabolism (extra-mitochondrial glycolysis). A metabolomic study revealed significant changes in the metabolic profile of cancer cells treated by poly(A:U) by comparison with untreated cells. We also showed that under TLR3 stimulation, HIF1 became detectable by Western blot analysis, even in normoxia. Given the fact that RNA fragments released by dying cells are able to trigger TLR3, one can assume that TLR3 might favour cancer cell survival in hypoxic areas located near the necrotic core of the tumour. However, TLR3 expression is also a factor of vulnerability for HN carcinoma cells: indeed, the combination of TLR3 artificial ligands with an IAP inhibitor has a strong cytotoxic effect on HN carcinoma cells in vitro.