Does uptake of antigens from modified vaccinia Ankara virus-infected leukocytes enhance the immunostimulatory capacity of dendritic cells?
MVA induces a T-helper (Th)-1-polarizing cytokine expression in APC. Furthermore, incubation of MVA-infected leukocytes with uninfected iDC leads to complete maturation of the DC and may be the basis for cross-presentation of MVA-encoded antigens. Thus this approach seems to be an ideal model for further studies with MVA-encoded viral antigens regarding immunotherapy and vaccination strategies.
RFP is a powerful independent predictor of mortality in patients with nonischemic DCM. The risk associated with RFP is greatest among patients who had short isovolumic relaxation time, mitral regurgitation, incoordinate wall-motion, and depressed amplitude of right ventricular long axis excursion. Thus, echocardiography-derived variables may stratify patients with heart failure with DCM who are at high risk, for whom aggressive medical treatment or heart transplantation should be considered early.