Abstract
This paper discusses how antibodies and antigen serve to coat a foreign cell preventing the foreign cell from binding to other cells in the body. Binding of the antibodies and antigen to a toxin molecule prevents the foreign cell from accomplishing any of the tasks that it is intended to achieve. The paper further discusses how, never the less, this process is dependent on an effector mechanism in the complement system which has specific purposes. The compliment system serves as the overall protector while the antibodies and antigen direct the response of the compliment system which in turn destroys the foreign cells.

From the Paper
"The integrity of the plasma membrane is essential for cellular survival. Could the immune system utilize this fact to destroy foreign cells that have invaded the body? How might cells of the immune system disrupt membranes of foreign cells? (Two hints: virtually all cells can secrete proteins, and some proteins form pores in membranes.) Antibodies and antigen serve to coat a foreign cell, preventing the foreign cell from binding to other cells in the body. Binding of the antibodies and antigen to a toxin molecule prevents the foreign cell from accomplishing any of the tasks that it is intended to achieve. Yet, this process is dependent on an effector mechanism in the complement system, which has specific purposes. The compliment system serves as the overall protector, while the antibodies and antigen direct the response of the compliment system, which in turn destroys the foreign cells."

Tags:cell, biology, lakes

Abstract
This paper examines the controversial issue of screening for prostate cancer using the PSA test. It explains that PSA is used for its predictive value of prostate cancer in men and a value higher than 4.0 is positive and indicates the possibility of cancer; it is negative if less than 4.0. The paper discusses the serious issues related to the lack of physician adherence to guidelines in Canada and the out-of-pocket payment required of men in Ontario who wish to have the PSA test. The paper also points out that the central issue related to PSA screening is informed decision making as it concerns the patient and the clinician.

From the Paper
"Prostate cancer is prevalent in Canada which, in 2006, had about 10,700 new cases and 4,200 deaths from the disease (Beaulac, Fry & Onysko, 2006). The incidence rates for prostate cancer are low in Ontario, Quebec, and three of the western provinces. Incidence rates in Ontario are far below the national average. The low rates in Ontario appear to result from the use of PSA screening and other forms of early detection. A reduced incidence rate since 1993 across Canada seems to indicate that detection is now being undertaken in a consistent manner all over the country (Gaudette & Altmayer, 1998)."

Tags:cancer, men, tests, biomarker, mortality, Ontario, Quebec

From the Paper
" HIV Testing
The causative agent in the present acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV exists in various forms, including HIV.1 and HIV.2. A number of laboratory tests are currently available for their detection.
HIV is a complex retrovirus of the lentivirus subgroup. It contains two copies of single.stranded viral RNA (1:305). The HIV genome contains structural genes that encode the proteins of the whole virus particle as well as replicative enzymes. The retrovirus also contains at least eight additional regulatory and accessory genes that regulate its life cycle (1:306).

Within about 4 to 6 weeks of initial HIV infection there is a period of viremia without detectable antibodies (1:306)..."

Abstract
This paper briefly summarizes and then reviews an article on a potential cancer therapy entitled "Exploiting T cell Receptor Genes for Cancer Immunotherapy." The paper explains that the article reviewed discussed various cancer treatment options with T cell receptor immunotherapy and then goes on to discuss the results and conclusions found in the article. The paper concludes that the article was well-written and informative.

From the Paper
"Adoptive antigen-specific immunotherapy is a potential cancer therapy because immunocompetence is not required and lymphocyte specificity can be targeted against tumour-associated antigens. T cell receptor (TCR) genes isolated from antigen-specific T cells may be therapeutically used for antigen-specific immunotherapy. TCR gene therapy may provide an appealing strategy to develop antigen-specific immunotherapy. Examples of this type of therapy include retroviral TCR gene transfer, TCR gene modified lymphocytes, and TCR gene expression."

Tags:monoclonal, generic, reagents, surface, helper, functions, cytotoxicity, cytokine, production

Abstract
Fetal antigens are what is referred to as "allogeneic" to the mother's immune system and should theoretically elicit an immune response. The fact that this does not occur and that the fetus thrives for so long in the mother without undergoing rejection by her immune system is a scientific mystery. There are five main theories that could explain the fetus's success in escaping the effects of the mother's immune system. These are the mother's overall immune suppressed state, maternal tolerance to fetal antigens, down-regulation of fetal antigens, the presence of a barrier between maternal immunity and the fetus, and local immune suppression in the placental region

From the Paper
Examining the Origins of the Fetal Relationship: Why Does the Mother's Body Tolerate the Fetus? Joe Student Professor's Name March 19, 2009 Fetal antigens are what is referred to as "allogeneic" to the mother's immune system and should theoretically elicit an immune response. The fact that this does not occur and that the fetus thrives for so long in the mother without undergoing rejection by her immune system is a scientific mystery. There are five main theories that could explain the fetus's

Tags:fetus, pregnancy, immunology

Abstract
This paper examines how affinity maturation is a response to an antibody that occurs in vivo and how it can be defined as the gradual increase of antibody affinity for the immunizing antigen with time. It looks at how it is associated with an enhanced secondary (anamnestic) response, somatic hypermutation, isotype switching and memory development.

From the Paper
"Somatic hypermutation leads to mutations in the rearranged V-D-J sequences of antibodies. The antibodies generated during the primary response use the germline V regions, but in secondary responses all the generated antibodies contain a higher number of V-D-J region mutations. Random changes are introduced into the heavy and light chain genes and may lead to an increase in affinity of the antibody to the antigen. These higher affinity antibodies are then selected to enter the memory cell pool. The somatic mutations occur within the germinal centre in close proximity to the FDC network. If the variants have a high affinity for the antigen they are selected to become either plasma cells or memory B cells [4]."

Tags:antigen, cell, isotype, somatic, hypermutation

Abstract
This paper explains that the immune system generates numerous unusual kinds of immune reactions. For example, the body annihilates eukaryotic cells having or bearing foreign cell-surface antigens. These include cancer cells, whose cell-surface antigens are distorted when a normal cell is genetically changed into a cancer cell. The antigen-bearing cell may be eaten by macrophages or killed by killer cells, which are specialized to destroy abnormal body cells. The paper examines how the immune system functions, looking at physiological processes such as cellular immunity and humoral immunity.

From the Paper
"Humoral immunity is best explained as if the virus has not yet invaded a body cell, it may be surfaced by antibody molecules that may have been secreted into the body fluids by B cells. The virus-antibody is then eaten and destroyed by a phagocyte."

Tags:cellular, humoral, allergy

Abstract
This paper discusses the problem of medicine's inability to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance, the final technical obstacle to bringing face transplants into widespread clinical application. The paper presents an overview of historic and current immunological research - from the use of chimerism, to the use of monoclonal antibodies to control T-cell activation - and its role in future prospects for a non-pharmaceutical strategy for tolerance induction in humans. The paper highlights studies that have examined tolerance in recipients of composite tissue allografts (CTAs), with emphasis on studies using animal models involving skin allografts, and with the intent of providing insight into the issues presented by transplantation of a face. It includes graphs and photographs to illustrate this.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
CTA Study Goals
Antigenicity of Facial Allograft Components
Immune Tolerance and Chimerism
T-cells: Activation and Blockage
Memory Cells: The Ghost in the Immune Machine
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Investigators are exploring several strategies in an attempt to provide medicine with safe and effective pharmaceuticals and clinical protocols for inducing tolerance after transplant. These include creating and using chimerism, and developing targeted bio-engineered monoclonal antibodies to inactivate or destroy T cells. This review, in its overview of historical and current immunological research, provides insight into the development of a T-cell-based strategy from a basic understanding of chimerism. This review also highlights studies that examine tolerance in recipients of CTA transplants, with specific emphasis on those using skin allograft animal models."

Tags:medical, operation, plastic, surgery, anti-immune, system

Abstract
The paper explores the treatment of CD20 antigen-expressing, low-grade, follicular, or transformed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a new type of radioimmunotherapy, Bexxar. The paper looks at studies that demonstrate the successes of this treatment, but also notes the detrimental side effects and the view of critics that Bexxar cannot be seen as a "cure" for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The paper looks at highly positive patient reviews, and reaches the conclusion that inspite of the promising data as to the treatment's effectiveness, there is still much that needs to be learned about Bexxar and its long-term effects.

From the Paper
"Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. This type of cancer can occur in many different areas of the body due to the fact that lymphatic tissue is part of many organs and lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma typically forms in a lymph node or group of lymph nodes and can spread to the liver, bone marrow, thymus gland, adenoids, tonsils, and spleen. The cancerous cells divide and grow chaotically and with great speed and old cells may not die as they should. When cancerous lymphoma cells reach the bone marrow they begin to replace the normal cells, which then causes problems with the immune system and bleeding. According to an article on oncology channel website (www.oncologychannel.com), there are over 50,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed in the United States each year. Of these cases, approximately 25,000 patients die from their disease. Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is typically comprised of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or biological therapy."

Tags:cancer, remission, tumors, cells, side, effects

Abstract
This paper discusses a case study concerning a patient infected with hepatitis B and her doctor's obligation to respect the patient's rights to confidentiality. The paper explains that, in this particular case, the patient's autonomy is not respected. The patient is not only competent but well-informed about the hepatitis B antigen, but the doctor insists on focusing on the patient's sex life when unprotected sex is only one of five possible causes of hepatitis B. The paper points out that the crucial point in this case is that the doctor makes an agreement with her over consent. The paper then argues that the doctor should maintain patient confidentiality.

Tags:utility, feminism, consent