Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a negative regulator of T cell activation, which competes with CD28 for B7.1/B7.2 binding, and which has a greater affinity. Fusion of specific antigens to extracellular domain of CTLA4 represents a promising approach to increase the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. In this study, we evaluated this interesting approach for CTLA4 enhancement on prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA)-specific immune responses and its anti-tumor effects in a prostate cancer mouse model. Consequently, we constructed a DNA vaccine containing the PSCA and the CTLA-4 gene. Vaccination with the CTLA4-fused DNA not only induced a much higher level of anti-PSCA antibody, but also increased PSCA-specific T cell response in mice. To evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy of the plasmids, murine models with PSCA-expressing tumors were generated. After injection of the tumor-bearing mouse model, the plasmid carrying the CTLA4 and PSCA fusion gene showed stronger inhibition of tumor growth than the plasmid expressing PSCA alone. These observations emphasize the potential of the CTLA4-fused DNA vaccine, which could represent a promising approach for tumor immunotherapy.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of a novel retrograde puncture approach to establish a preperitoneal space for laparoscopic direct inguinal hernia repair with inguinal ring suturing. Forty-two patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair with retrograde puncture for preperitoneal space establishment as well as inguinal ring suturing between August 2013 and March 2014 at our hospital were enrolled. Preperitoneal space was successfully established in all patients, with a mean establishment time of 6 min. Laparoscopic repairs were successful in all patients, with a mean surgical time of 26±15.1 min. Mean postoperative hospitalization duration was 3.0±0.7 days. Two patients suffered from postoperative local hematomas, which were relieved after puncturing and drainage. Four patients had short-term local pain. There were no cases of chronic pain. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year, and no recurrence was observed. Our results demonstrate that preperitoneal space established by the retrograde puncture technique can be successfully used in adult laparoscopic hernioplasty to avoid intraoperative mesh fixation, and thus reduce medical costs.

In the present work as been studied the performance of a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) coated with layers of SnO2-Sb2O5-RuO2 to be used in the anodic oxidation of synthetic solutions of phenol. The coating layers were applied by cathodic deposition on a titanium mesh, followed by thermal activation at 450° C. The anode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. In the experimental tests we employed a tubular and phenol concentrations of 100, 300, 500 and 1000 mg/L using NaCl as supporting electrolyte and conducting the experiments at different pH values of 2, 7 and 12. The mechanism of oxidation was function of the pH, through the generation of oxidants chlorine derivatives added to the generation of hidroxyl radicals obtained from the electrolysis of water. In all cases, removal percentages obtained were greater than 90% measured in terms of decrease of phenol, 80% for the chemical oxygen demand and 70% for the total organic carbon. In the experiments with the higher concentration of phenol in acidic conditions, was observed the effect of polymerization of the byproducts of oxidation of phenol.

En el presente trabajo se estudió el desempeño de un ánodo dimensionalmente estable (DSA por sus siglas en inglés) recubierto con capas de SnO2-Sb2O5-RuO2 para su empleo en la oxidación anódica de soluciones sintéticas de fenol. Las capas de recubrimiento fueron aplicados por depositación catódica sobre una malla metálica de titanio, seguida de una activación térmica a 450 °C. El ánodo se caracterizó por microscopía electrónica de barrido y voltamperometría cíclica. Para las pruebas experimentales se empleó un reactor tubular y concentraciones de fenol de 100, 300, 500 y 1000 mg/L utilizando NaCl como electrolito soporte y valores de pH de 2, 7 y 12. El mecanismo de oxidación fue función del pH, por medio de la generación de oxidantes derivados del cloro sumada a la generación de radicales hidroxilo de la electrólisis del agua. En todos los casos, se obtuvieron porcentajes de remoción mayores al 90% medidos en términos de disminución de fenol, del 80% para la demanda química de oxígeno y del 70% en el carbono orgánico total. En los experimentos realizados con la mayor concentración de fenol en condiciones ácidas, se observó el efecto de polimerización de los subproductos de la oxidación del fenol.