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Authenticity has been long debated in a panoply of tourism contexts. In events, it has been linked to satisfaction and intention to revisit, although the extent to which it is important for all types of attendees remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceived authenticity at the world's most iconic beer festival, the Oktoberfest in Munich. The study segments visitors based on their motivations to determine the role of authenticity in their attendance, while also investigating the contributing authenticity dimensions to overall authenticity and festival outcomes. The analysis of 1,281 questionnaires revealed four segments of visitors and identified key dimensions of authenticity shaping overall perception and festival outcomes. The findings suggest authenticity remains a strong marketable characteristic of major events, supporting their competitiveness and sustainability. Practical implications are provided for event organizers to attract a variety of eventgoers with different profiles and particularities in authenticity perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary human blood cells represent an essential model system to study physiology and disease. However, human blood is a limited resource. During healthy donor plateletpheresis, the leukoreduction system chamber (LRSC) reduces the leukocyte amount within the subsequent platelet concentrate through saturated, fluidized, particle bed filtration technology. Normally, the LRSC is discarded after apheresis is completed. Compared to peripheral blood, LRSC yields 10-fold mononuclear cell concentration. Methods: To explore if those retained leukocytes are attractive for research purposes, we isolated CD3+ T cells from the usually discarded LRSCs via density gradient centrifugation in order to manufacture CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Results: Immunophenotypic characterization revealed viable and normal CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations within LRSC, with low CD19+ B cell counts. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) purified CD3+ T cells were transduced with CD19 CAR-encoding lentiviral self-inactivating vectors using concentrated viral supernatants. Robust CD19 CAR cell surface expression on transduced T cells was confirmed by flow cytometry. CD19 CAR T cells were further enriched through anti-CAR MACS, yielding 80% CAR+ T-cell populations. In vitro CAR T cell expansion to clinically relevant numbers was achieved. To prove functionality, CAR T cells were co-incubated with the human CD19+ B cell precursor leukemia cell line Nalm6. Compared to unmodified T cells, CD19 CAR T cells effectively eradicated Nalm6 cells. Conclusion: Taken together, we can show that lymphocytes isolated from LRSCs of plateletpheresis sets can be efficiently used for the generation of functional CAR T cells for experimental purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The oncological impact of perioperative blood transfusions (PBTs) of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) because of bladder cancer (BCa) has been a controversial topic discussed in recent years. The main cause for the contradictory findings of existing studies might be the missing consideration of the storage time of red blood cell units (BUs), donor age, and gender matching. Study Design and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed BCa patients who underwent RC in our department between 2004 and 2021. We excluded patients receiving BUs before RC, >10 BUs, or RC in a palliative setting. We assessed the effect of blood donor characteristics and storage time on overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) through univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis. We also performed a propensity score matching with patients who received BUs and patients who did not on a 1:1 ratio. Results: We screened 1692 patients and included 676 patients for the propensity score matching. In the multivariable analysis, PBT was independently associated with worse OS and CSS (p <.001). Postoperative transfusions were associated with better OS (p =.004) and CSS (p =.008) compared to intraoperative or mixed transfusions. However, there was no influence of blood donor age, storage time, or gender matching on prognosis. Discussion: In our study of BCa patients undergoing RC, we demonstrate that PBT, especially if administered intraoperatively, is an independent risk factor for a worse prognosis. However, storage time, donor age, or gender matching did not negatively affect oncological outcomes. Therefore, the specific selection of blood products does not promise any benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activating receptor natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) represents an attractive target for immunotherapy as it exerts a crucial role in cancer immunosurveillance by regulating the activity of cytotoxic lymphocytes. In this study, a panel of novel NKG2D-specific single-chain fragments variable (scFv) were isolated from naïve human antibody gene libraries and fused to the fragment antigen binding (Fab) of rituximab to obtain [CD20×NKG2D] bibodies with the aim to recruit cytotoxic lymphocytes to lymphoma cells. All bispecific antibodies bound both antigens simultaneously. Two bibody constructs, [CD20×NKG2D#3] and [CD20×NKG2D#32], efficiently activated natural killer (NK) cells in co-cultures with CD20+ lymphoma cells. Both bibodies triggered NK cell-mediated lysis of lymphoma cells and especially enhanced antibodydependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by CD38 or CD19 specific monoclonal antibodies suggesting a synergistic effect between NKG2D and FcgRIIIA signaling pathways in NK cell activation. The [CD20×NKG2D] bibodies were not effective in redirecting CD8+ T cells as single agents, but enhanced cytotoxicity when combined with a bispecific [CD19×CD3] T cell engager, indicating that NKG2D signaling also supports CD3-mediated T cell activation. In conclusion, engagement of NKG2D with bispecific antibodies is attractive to directly activate cytotoxic lymphocytes or to support their activation by monoclonal antibodies or bispecific T cell engagers. As a perspective, cotargeting of two tumor antigens may allow fine-tuning of antibody cancer therapies. Our proposed combinatorial approach is potentially applicable for many existing immunotherapies but further testing in different preclinical models is necessary to explore the full potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]