Vaginal (type-II) mucosa acts as an inductive site during the generation of primary CD8+ T cell mucosal immune responses (P3186)

It is widely believed that primary immune induction in type-II mucosa (vagina, mouth & cornea) occurs in the draining LNs due to a lack of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. In this process, naïve T cells located in the draining LNs are primed by antigen (Ag)-bearing dendritic cells migrating from the Ag-exposed mucosa. Primed T cells then travel to the mucosal site through the bloodstream. In contrast to this paradigm, we show that vaginal mucosa itself can act as an immune inductive site for generation of primary CD8+ T cell mucosal immunity. As evidence, we found that naïve CD8+ T cells routinely migrated to the female reproductive tract and that Ag-specific CD8+ T cells could be generated in the LN-deficient mice after intravaginal immunization. Further, the adoptively transferred naïve OT-1 CD8+ T cells were activated in the vaginal mucosa but not in the draining LNs at 24 hours after intravaginal immunization, even in the presence of FTY720, a drug blocking the egress of T cells from LNs. In addition, the Ag-bearing cells isolated from immunized vaginal mucosa were able to stimulate naïve TCR-transgenic RT-1 CD8+ T cells to secret IFN-γ and undergo proliferation. Finally, vaginal mucosa largely supported the expansion of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells. In conclusion, we present evidence for a new paradigm for primary CD8+ T cell immune induction in type-II mucosa of the vagina, one that occurs locally without the help of draining LNs or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

Vaginal type-II mucosa acts as an inductive site for the generation of primary CD8+ T cell mucosal immune responses

It is widely believed that primary immune T cell induction in type-II mucosa (found in vagina, glans penis & esophagus) occurs only in the draining lymph nodes (DLNs) due to a lack of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

Review of metal (hydr)oxide and other adsorptive materials for phosphate removal from water

Eutrophication, a worldwide problem, threatens the ecology of freshwater bodies and marine environments. However, the control of nutrients, especially phosphate in water bodies and contaminated sediments, poses major technical and economic challenges. Today, various attempts have been made to investigate a cost-effective way to have phosphate control. Among the various techniques applied to remove phosphate, the process of adsorption has drawn great attention due to its low cost, ease of operation, and simplicity of design. Another attractive feature of adsorption is the usage of nutrient-loaded adsorbents, which can be used as a phosphate fertilizer and a soil conditioner in agriculture. In this regard, many different types of chemicals with various structures have been synthesized and applied for the capture of phosphate from water. This review summaries contemporary development of adsorbents for phosphate removal, most specifically, the adsorption by metal-based materials, mesoporous materials, organic and metal-organic hybrid materials, carbon-supported materials, minerals, and modified wastes. The effects of operational parameters on phosphate adsorption and fitting of adsorption process, as well as regeneration of used adsorbents are also examined. Metal (hydr)oxides loaded adsorbents have been widely researched. Additional modifying of material characteristics such as improving porosity and surface area, the stability and potential risks of adsorbents in complex condition, and their efficient separation and regeneration should be taken into consideration in further studies

Vaginal type-II mucosa is an inductive site for primary CD8+ T-cell mucosal immunity

The structured lymphoid tissues are considered the only inductive sites where primary T-cell immune responses occur. The naïve T cells in structured lymphoid tissues, once being primed by antigen-bearing dendritic cells, differentiate into memory T cells and traffic back to the mucosal sites through the bloodstream. Contrary to this belief, here we show that the vaginal type-II mucosa itself, despite the lack of structured lymphoid tissues, can act as an inductive site during primary CD8 + T-cell immune responses. We provide evidence that the vaginal mucosa supports both the local immune priming of naïve CD8 + T cells and the local expansion of antigen-specific CD8 + T cells, thereby demonstrating a different paradigm for primary mucosal T-cell immune induction. © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Reducing topsoil depth decreases the yield and nutrient uptake of maize and soybean grown in a glacial till

Soil erosion decreases topsoil depth on hill slopes and increases depth in depositional areas, and hence impacts soil fertility and crop productivity in agricultural systems. However, it is not clearly elucidated how different crop species adapt to soil erosion regarding root function, nutrient uptake, and rhizosphere biochemical properties, which is pivotal to cropping strategy. We established three simulated erosion severities with topsoil depths of 10, 20, and 30 cm on a Mollisol farmland under a maize-soybean rotation system with no-tillage (zero-tillage). After three consecutive years of field experiment, the decrease in topsoil thickness from 30 to 10 cm resulted in 9–22% decrease in maize yield but no impact on soybean yield. Compared to the 30- and 20-cm topsoil thickness, the 10-cm topsoil significantly lowered root and shoot biomass of maize at the jointing (V7) and milk stages (R3) and of soybean at the mid-seed filling stage (R6). Compared to the 30-cm topsoil treatment, the 10-cm topsoil decreased available N and P in soil by 42 and 36% under maize, and by 25 and 19% under soybean, respectively, while the shallow topsoil also decreased ratios of N, P, and K content to root length with the decreases being less for maize than soybean. Compared to the 30-cm topsoil depth, the 10- and 20-cm topsoil significantly increased the activities of urease, phosphatase, and invertase in maize rhizosphere soil, but not in soybean rhizosphere soil except for the activity of urease in 10-cm topsoil. These results indicated that maize was more sensitive to thinning of topsoil than soybean due to the reduced soil nutrient availability and its capability to extract nutrients from the soil. The greater stimulation of nutrient mineralization processes in soil did not alleviate the nutrient constraint to maize yield under shallow topsoil conditions. Thus, it is increasingly important to develop fertilization strategy to maintain nutrient supply for maize rather than soybean when these crops are grown in the shallow topsoil.</p

Intensive blood pressure control after endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke (ENCHANTED2/MT): a multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial

Background The optimum systolic blood pressure after endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke is uncertain. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of blood pressure lowering treatment according to more intensive versus less intensive treatment targets in patients with elevated blood pressure after reperfusion with endovascular treatment. Methods We conducted an open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial at 44 tertiary-level hospitals in China. Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years) had persistently elevated systolic blood pressure (≥140 mm Hg for >10 min) following successful reperfusion with endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke from any intracranial large-vessel occlusion. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1, by a central, web-based program with a minimisation algorithm) to more intensive treatment (systolic blood pressure target Findings Between July 20, 2020, and March 7, 2022, 821 patients were randomly assigned. The trial was stopped after review of the outcome data on June 22, 2022, due to persistent efficacy and safety concerns. 407 participants were assigned to the more intensive treatment group and 409 to the less intensive treatment group, of whom 404 patients in the more intensive treatment group and 406 patients in the less intensive treatment group had primary outcome data available. The likelihood of poor functional outcome was greater in the more intensive treatment group than the less intensive treatment group (common OR 1·37 [95% CI 1·07–1·76]). Compared with the less intensive treatment group, the more intensive treatment group had more early neurological deterioration (common OR 1·53 [95% 1·18–1·97]) and major disability at 90 days (OR 2·07 [95% CI 1·47–2·93]) but there were no significant differences in symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage. There were no significant differences in serious adverse events or mortality between groups. Interpretation Intensive control of systolic blood pressure to lower than 120 mm Hg should be avoided to prevent compromising the functional recovery of patients who have received endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke due to intracranial large-vessel occlusion.</p

Intensive blood pressure control after endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke (ENCHANTED2/MT): a multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial

Background The optimum systolic blood pressure after endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke is uncertain. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of blood pressure lowering treatment according to more intensive versus less intensive treatment targets in patients with elevated blood pressure after reperfusion with endovascular treatment. Methods We conducted an open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial at 44 tertiary-level hospitals in China. Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years) had persistently elevated systolic blood pressure (≥140 mm Hg for >10 min) following successful reperfusion with endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke from any intracranial large-vessel occlusion. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1, by a central, web-based program with a minimisation algorithm) to more intensive treatment (systolic blood pressure target Findings Between July 20, 2020, and March 7, 2022, 821 patients were randomly assigned. The trial was stopped after review of the outcome data on June 22, 2022, due to persistent efficacy and safety concerns. 407 participants were assigned to the more intensive treatment group and 409 to the less intensive treatment group, of whom 404 patients in the more intensive treatment group and 406 patients in the less intensive treatment group had primary outcome data available. The likelihood of poor functional outcome was greater in the more intensive treatment group than the less intensive treatment group (common OR 1·37 [95% CI 1·07–1·76]). Compared with the less intensive treatment group, the more intensive treatment group had more early neurological deterioration (common OR 1·53 [95% 1·18–1·97]) and major disability at 90 days (OR 2·07 [95% CI 1·47–2·93]) but there were no significant differences in symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage. There were no significant differences in serious adverse events or mortality between groups. Interpretation Intensive control of systolic blood pressure to lower than 120 mm Hg should be avoided to prevent compromising the functional recovery of patients who have received endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke due to intracranial large-vessel occlusion.</p