Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 5 mediates the immune quiescence of the human brain endothelial barrier

BACKGROUND: The sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator FTY720P (Gilenya®) potently reduces relapse rate and lesion activity in the neuroinflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis. Although most of its efficacy has been shown to be related to immunosuppression through the induction of lymphopenia, it has been suggested that a number of its beneficial effects are related to altered endothelial and blood–brain barrier (BBB) functionality. However, to date it remains unknown whether brain endothelial S1P receptors are involved in the maintenance of the function of the BBB thereby mediating immune quiescence of the brain. Here we demonstrate that the brain endothelial receptor S1P(5) largely contributes to the maintenance of brain endothelial barrier function. METHODS: We analyzed the expression of S1P(5) in human post-mortem tissues using immunohistochemistry. The function of S1P(5) at the BBB was assessed in cultured human brain endothelial cells (ECs) using agonists and lentivirus-mediated knockdown of S1P(5). Subsequent analyses of different aspects of the brain EC barrier included the formation of a tight barrier, the expression of BBB proteins and markers of inflammation and monocyte transmigration. RESULTS: We show that activation of S1P(5) on cultured human brain ECs by a selective agonist elicits enhanced barrier integrity and reduced transendothelial migration of monocytes in vitro. These results were corroborated by genetically silencing S1P(5) in brain ECs. Interestingly, functional studies with these cells revealed that S1P(5) strongly contributes to brain EC barrier function and underlies the expression of specific BBB endothelial characteristics such as tight junctions and permeability. In addition, S1P(5) maintains the immunoquiescent state of brain ECs with low expression levels of leukocyte adhesion molecules and inflammatory chemokines and cytokines through lowering the activation of the transcription factor NFκB. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that S1P(5) in brain ECs contributes to optimal barrier formation and maintenance of immune quiescence of the barrier endothelium

A nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention after radiotherapy for gynecological cancer

Purpose: Although vaginal dilator use after combined pelvic radiation therapy and brachytherapy (RT/BT) is recommended to prevent vaginal shortening and stenosis, women fail to use them and experience sexual problems. A nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention targeting sexual recovery and vaginal dilatation was developed. Its feasibility was investigated during a prospective, longitudinal, observational pilot study. Methods: Four oncology nurses were specifically trained to conduct the intervention. Gynecologic cancer patients treated with RT/BT were assessed using (i) questionnaires on frequency of dilator use (monthly), sexual functioning, and sexual distress (at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months) and psychological and relational distress (at 1, 6, and 12 months); (ii) semi-structured interviews (between 6 and 12 months); and (iii) consultation recordings (a random selection of 21 % of all consults). Results: Twenty participants were 26–71 years old (mean = 40). Eight participants discontinued participation after 3 to 9 months. At 6 months after RT, 14 out of 16 (88 %), and at 12 months 9 out of 12 (75 %), participants dilated regularly, either by having sexual intercourse or by using dilators. Sexual functioning improved between 1 and 6 months after RT, with further improvement at 12 months. Most participants reported that the intervention was helpful and the nurses reported having sufficient expertise and counseling skills. Conclusions: According to the pilot results, the intervention was feasible and promising for sexual rehabilitation and regular dilator use after RT. Its (cost-)effectiveness will be investigated in a randomized controlled trial

About the crystal structure of La_1-xSr_xCoO_3-δ (0≤x≤0.6)

The crystal structure of La1−xSrxCoO3−δ (0≤x≤0.6) has been studied, using powder X-Ray diffraction. The crystal structure shows a transition from rhombohedral distorted perovskite for LaCoO3−δ into cubic perovskite for La0.4Sr0.6CoO3−δ. The cubic unit cell parameter is ac=3.8342(1) Å for La0.4Sr0.6CoO3−δ, the space group probably being Pm3m. Using a hexagonal setting, the cell parameters for La0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ, are a=5.4300(3) Å, c=13.2516(10) Å; a=5.4375(1) Å, c=13.2313(4) Å for La0.6Sr0.4CoO3−δ; a=5.4437(1) Å, c=13.2085(5) Å for La0.7Sr0.3CoO3−δ; a=5.4497(2) Å, c=13.1781(6) Å for La0.8Sr0.2CoO3−δ and a=5.4445(2) Å, c=13.0936(6) Å for LaCoO3−δ with the space group probably being R3c

Preparation of La0.3Sr0.7CoO3-δ perovskite by thermal decomposition of metal-EDTA complexes

Perovskite powders of La0.3Sr0.7CoO3-δ were prepared by the thermal decomposition of precursor complexes derived from nitrate solutions using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a complexing agent. The calcination temperature is 920 °C. Powders thus obtained have a low carbon contamination. Dense ceramics with a relative density of about 96% have been prepared after sintering at 1150 °C

Phase related oxygen permeation through Sr-doped LaCoO3-δ

Oxygen permeation results through La1-xSrxCoO3-δ are reported. It is shown that in the temperature region 750 - 775 °C an order-disorder of the oxygen sublattice occurs. The low temperature ordered phase is studied by X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), neutron diffraction as well as selected area electron diffraction (SAED) together with High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) coupled with Parallel Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (PEELS) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). Although the long range methods XRD and neutron diffraction showed no indications for an oxygen vacancy ordering, SAED and HRTEM showed micro domains exhibiting an ac x ac x 2ac superstructure, along with regions without indications for a superstructure. The superstructure could be interpreted in terms of an oxygen vacancy ordering due to which a large part of the oxygen vacancies were trapped in regions with the superstructure and so effectively reducing the ionic conductivity. By means of PEELS it was shown that the cobalt ions within the superstructure regions have a higher oxidation state than the cobalt ions in the non-ordered regions