In this review we discuss several fascinating relationships between the gastrointestinal tract and commensal bacteria, with particular emphasis on bifidobacteria as a prototypical group of human enteric microorganisms.”
“The

aim of the present study was to simultaneously measure and compare intermodal attention effects in event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs). For this purpose, AZD5153 40-Hz amplitude modulated tones and a visual fixation cross were presented concurrently. By means of target detection tasks either on the sounds or on the fixation cross, participants’ attention was directed to the respective modality. Attended sounds elicited a negative difference (Nd) in the ERP relative to unattended sounds. Nd was divided into an early and a late part as often observed for intramodal attention. Moreover, attention to the sounds led to a significant enhancement of the ASSR. This modulation of the ASSR by intermodal attention WZB117 is demonstrated for the first time in the EEG. The present data suggest that ASSRs could provide a useful tool for the investigation of the neural dynamics of intermodal attentional processes.”
“Dendritic cells are key players in renal allograft rejection and have been identified as an

intrinsic part of the kidney. Here we quantified and phenotyped the dendritic cell populations in well-defined biopsies of 102 patients with acute renal allograft rejection in comparison MK5108 datasheet with 78 available

pretransplant biopsies. There was a strong increase in BDCA-1(+) and DC-SIGN(+) myeloid, BDCA-2(+) plasmacytoid, and DC-LAMP(+) mature dendritic cells in rejection biopsies compared with the corresponding pretransplant tissue. Mature dendritic cells were mostly found in clusters of lymphoid infiltrate and showed a strong correlation with the Banff infiltrate score. The presence of both myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cell subsets in the kidney during acute rejection correlated with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Importantly, the myeloid dendritic cell density at the time of acute rejection was an independent risk factor for loss of renal function after the first year. Thus, acute renal allograft rejection is characterized by an influx of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, strongly associated with local damage in the graft. Hence, the density of myeloid dendritic cells during acute rejection could be an important risk factor for the long-term development of chronic changes and loss of graft function. Kidney International (2012) 81, 64-75; doi:10.1038/ki.2011.289; published online 24 August 2011″
“Significant work from many laboratories over the last decade in the study of cancer immunology has resulted in the development of the cancer immunoediting hypothesis.