Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by a hyperactive immune system, including activation of autoreactive T and B cells. These studies demonstrate that administration of recombinant galectin-1, a β-galactose binding protein, to SLE-prone (NZB × NZW) F1 mice reduced lymphocyte activation, inhibited serum anti-double-stranded DNA(dsDNA) IgG antibody production, decreased the incidence of proteinuria, and increased survival rate. In addition, recombinant galectin-1'-treated mice had a higher frequency of Foxp3 expression, which suggested an increase in the percentage of peripheral regulatory T cells. Consistent with the finding that there were fewer activated T lymphocytes, ex vivo T cells from mice treated with recombinant galectin-1 exhibited less proliferation in response to TCR stimulation. Furthermore, these cells were less efficient at lipid raft clustering in response to TCR/CD28 engagement, consistent with published reports that galectin-1 can reorganize the synaptic contact to interfere with TCR signaling and activation to prevent T cell activation. Aged galectin-1-deficient mice had higher serum levels of antibodies against dsDNA, elucidating a role for endogenous galectin-1 in decreasing susceptibility to autoimmunity. Together, the findings highlight galectin-1 as a novel potential therapeutic immune modulator for treatment of lupus-like disease.

Mikulicz's disease is a condition in which there is bilateral lacrimal and salivary gland swelling that is not associated with other systemic conditions. The condition is self-limiting and most often, the diagnosis is a clinical one. Previously, Mikulicz's disease was often considered as a subtype of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Clinical and immunologic differences between Mikulicz's disease and SS may warrant further consideration of Mikulicz's disease as a specific autoimmune phenomenon separate from SS, and Mikulicz's disease may be amenable to different treatment modalities than those employed in patients with SS.

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Purpose: This study analyzes the variation in patient setup based upon daily megavoltage cone‐beam CT (MVCBCT) prior to treatment. The variation in organ dose as a function of table shifts is quantified in order to understand the effect of systematic versus random setup error for head and neck (H&N) IMRT patients. Methods and Materials: Sixty patients with H&N cancer were imaged on a daily basis prior to treatment using MVCB CT imaging with the initial clinical setup based upon in‐room lasers and mask marks. After imaging the patients were repositioned based upon registration of the MVCB CT to the original planning CT. The average shift, standard deviation and root mean square values were calculated based upon the daily shift values in the lateral (LAT), superior‐inferior (LONG), and anterior‐posterior (VERT) dimensions. The mean shift values were incorporated into the treatment planning system to recalculate the dosimetry for each patient, assuming the shifts were not performed on a daily basis. Results: Comprehensive tables were generated to evaluate the dose difference for each patient as a function of the CTV, spinal cord, and optic chiasm assuming the mean table shift values were not performed on a daily basis. The maximum and mean dose difference for the CTV, averaged across nine patients in the study group, was −4.0% (range of −9.5% to 0.5%) and −5.7% (range of −11.7% to 0.2%). The maximum and mean dose difference for the spinal cord was −3% (range of −12.4% to 13.6%) and −6.1% (range of −12.9% to 1.2%). Conclusion: The dosimetry difference is not trivial before and after table shifts based upon MVCB CT imaging. Further study is needed to quantify the effect on the delivered dose distribution as a function of systematic versus random setup error.