Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. Despite the well-documented importance of the granulomatous response in the pathogenesis of this infection, there is limited information about the types of cells and cytokines involved. In fact, there has been limited characterization of human brain granulomas with any infectious agent. In the present study a detailed histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the immune response was performed on eight craniotomy specimens where a granuloma surrounded each T. solium metacestode. The results indicated that in all the specimens there was a dying parasite surrounded by a mature granuloma with associated fibrosis, angiogenesis, and an inflammatory infiltrate. The most abundant cell types were plasma cells, B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, and mast cells. Th1 cytokines were prevalent and included gamma interferon, interleukin-18 (IL-18), and the immunosuppressive, fibrosis-promoting cytokine transforming growth factor ␤. The Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10 were also present. These observations indicate that a chronic immune response is elicited in the CNS environment with multiple cell types that together secrete inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, both collagen type I and type III deposits were evident and could contribute to irreversible nervous tissue damage in NCC patients.

Human papillomavirus seropositivity is associated with measures of sexual behavior, particularly a greater lifetime number of sexual partners. Hormonal and tobacco/cigarette use may be factors influencing the HPV seropositivity in women older than 45 years old.

Only a small proportion of women infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) develop cervical cancer. Host immune response seems to play a role eliminating the viral infection and preventing progression to cancer. Characterization of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in cervical pre-neoplastic lesions and cervical cancer may be helpful to understand the mechanisms that mediate this protection. The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in the localization and density (cells/mm 2 ) of CD8+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells and Tregs (CD25 + Foxp3+) in cervical pre-neoplastic lesions and cervical cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of sections of 96 (26 CIN1, 21 CIN2, 25 CIN3, and 24 SCC) samples revealed that regardless of CIN grades, CD8+ T-cells are more abundant than CD4+, CD25+ and Foxp3+ cells in both the stroma and epithelium. There was a higher density of CD8+ cells in the stroma of cervical cancer compared to CIN3 (OR 0 4.20, 95% CI 1.2-15), CIN2 (OR 0 7.86, 95% CI 1.7-36.4) and CIN1 (OR 0 4.25, 95% CI 1.1-17). Studies evaluating whether these cells are recruited before or after cancer progression will be helpful to understand the role of these cells in the natural history of HPV-induced lesions.

A B S T R A C TThe objectives were to utilize a microwave oven (HM) to determine dry matter (MS) and evaluate its effect on dry matter (MS), organic matter content (MO), in vitro organic matter digestibility (DIVMO), brute protein (PB), acid detergent fiber (FDA), and acid-detergent insoluble nitrogen (NIDA). We utilized the forage species: Medicago sativa L., Trifolium repens L., Trifolium pratense L. and Thinopyrum ponticum Barkw. & D.R. Dewey, and mixtures of: M. sativa-Dactylis glomerata L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb.-T. repens-D. glomerata, and Lolium perenne L.-T. repens. The experimental design was a factorial complete randomized block. We compared drying time (Ts) and quality parameters on stove method (T1), HM at 900 W (T2), and HM at 900 and 400 W (T3), by ANDEVA and Duncan Test (p ≤ 0.05). In T2 and T3, Ts ranged from 6 to 8 min (T. pratense and Th. ponticum, respectively), compared to 48 h for T1. The MS value did not show differences between treatments for M. sativa, T. pratense, M. sativa-D. glomerata, and L. perenne-T. repens, but there were differences for the other forages between T2 or T3 with T1, which could be explained by the forages phenological stage. Differences between treatments were found for FDA (T. repens), DIVMO and PB (Th. ponticum), and PB and MO (L. perenne-T. repens). The use of the microwave oven allows a quick and consistent MS determination, along with a reliable forage quality standard evaluation.