Small cell lung cancer stem cells display mesenchymal properties and exploit immune checkpoint pathways in activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor type with early dissemination and distant metastasis capacity. Even though optimal chemotherapy responses are observed initially in many patients, therapy resistance is almost inevitable. Accordingly, SCLC has been regarded as an archetype for cancer stem cell (CSC) dynamics. To determine the immune-modulatory influence of CSC in SCLC, this study focused on the characterization of CD44(+)CD90(+) CSC-like subpopulations in SCLC. These cells displayed mesenchymal properties, differentiated into different lineages and further contributed to CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses. The interaction between CD44(+)CD90(+) CSC-like cells and T cells led to the upregulation of checkpoint molecules PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG3. In the patient-derived lymph nodes, CD44(+) SCLC metastases were also observed with T cells expressing PD-1, TIM-3, or LAG3. Proliferation and IFN-γ expression capacity of TIM-3 and LAG3 co-expressing CTLs are adversely affected over long-time co-culture with CD44(+)CD90(+) CSC-like cells. Moreover, especially through IFN-γ secreted by the T cells, the CSC-like SCLC cells highly expressed PD-L1 and PD-L2. Upon a second encounter with immune-experienced, IFN-γ-stimulated CSC-like SCLC cells, both cytotoxic and proliferation capacities of T cells were hampered. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for the superior potential of the SCLC cells with stem-like and mesenchymal properties to gain immune regulatory capacities and cope with cytotoxic T cell responses. With their high metastatic and immune-modulatory assets, the CSC subpopulation in SCLC may serve as a preferential target for checkpoint blockade immunotherapy

Of the importance of a leaf: the ethnobotany of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans

BACKGROUND: Sarma - cooked leaves rolled around a filling made from rice and/or minced meat, possibly vegetables and seasoning plants - represents one of the most widespread feasting dishes of the Middle Eastern and South-Eastern European cuisines. Although cabbage and grape vine sarma is well-known worldwide, the use of alternative plant leaves remains largely unexplored. The aim of this research was to document all of the botanical taxa whose leaves are used for preparing sarma in the folk cuisines of Turkey and the Balkans. Methods: Field studies were conducted during broader ethnobotanical surveys, as well as during ad-hoc investigations between the years 2011 and 2014 that included diverse rural communities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. Primary ethnobotanical and folkloric literatures in each country were also considered. Results: Eighty-seven botanical taxa, mainly wild, belonging to 50 genera and 27 families, were found to represent the bio-cultural heritage of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans. The greatest plant biodiversity in sarma was found in Turkey and, to less extent, in Bulgaria and Romania. The most commonly used leaves for preparing sarma were those of cabbage (both fresh and lacto-fermented), grape vine, beet, dock, sorrel, horseradish, lime tree, bean, and spinach. In a few cases, the leaves of endemic species (Centaurea haradjianii, Rumex gracilescens, and R. olympicus in Turkey) were recorded. Other uncommon sarma preparations were based on lightly toxic taxa, such as potato leaves in NE Albania, leaves of Arum, Convolvulus, and Smilax species in Turkey, of Phytolacca americana in Macedonia, and of Tussilago farfara in diverse countries. Moreover, the use of leaves of the introduced species Reynoutria japonica in Romania, Colocasia esculenta in Turkey, and Phytolacca americana in Macedonia shows the dynamic nature of folk cuisines. Conclusion: The rich ethnobotanical diversity of sarma confirms the urgent need to record folk culinary plant knowledge. The results presented here can be implemented into initiatives aimed at re-evaluating folk cuisines and niche food markets based on local neglected ingredients, and possibly also to foster trajectories of the avant-garde cuisines inspired by ethnobotanical knowledge

Organizational and corporate identity revisited: Towards a comprehensive understanding of identity in business

ABSTRACT: Purpose – This paper provides a comprehensive and integrative review of academic literature analyzing identity in business. The literature review proposed by the authors helps clearing up theoretical and practical understanding of this concept. Design/methodology/approach – A review of existing literature in organizational behavior and marketing fields is proposed to clarify the meaning of organizational and corporate identity. On the basis of this review, the authors also identify an integrative perspective proposed for managers to identify and effectively manage all dimensions of their business identities. Findings – Literature on the identity of businesses is extensive and blurred, failing to provide useful guidance for practitioners to manage this concept. A new approach proposes understanding this kind of identity as a global concept that integrates proposals from diverse research fields in order to take advantage of cross-fertilization. Practical implications – This research allows identity and communication managers to understand dimensions of business identity for a more effective management of this concept in their organizations. Originality/value – The line of research that proposes an integrative multidisciplinary approach to the study of identity in business is quite new and, as so, it still needs further contributions to clarify this nascent domain. In this paper, the authors also classify previous studies on business identity according to the theoretical approach they assume just as no other research has done before. Borra

Human rights norms in CSCE and the behaviour of a state Perceptions of elites in Turkey

CSCE -Conference on Security and Cooperation in EuropeSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN009411 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

A New Geographical Hydrological Modeling in the Calculation of Infiltration and Runoff: A Case Goksu Basin

Water is of great importance for all living life in nature, especially for human beings. The world has limited underground-surface fresh water resources. Increasing world population and the need for water use of this population in many areas such as drinking, agricultural irrigation, industry, energy production, etc., is also increasing exponentially. This situation; Human and economic pressures on river basins jeopardize the risk of pollution of the basins and the sustainability of the water potentials of the basins. For these reasons, it is very important to determine infiltration and runoff in any river basin. On these issues; from past to present, hydrological formulas and methods have been developed by many authors such as. However, natural factors are not included in these formulas and methods in a holistic manner. In this study; A new geographic hydrological model has been developed with the help of GIS, AHP, RS and Digitization techniques by taking into account natural factors on infiltration and runoff in the Goksu Basin. In the hydrological modeling process developed; In order to determine the effects of each natural criterion on infiltration and runoff, it was digitized and processed in the AHP model program. As a result of the mathematical formula and calculations developed in addition to all these, a total of 407.1 mm infiltration and runoff were calculated. This result was correlated with a total flow height of 429.2 mm in the basin and a successful result of 0.95 was obtained

Characterization of the straw stalk of the rapeseed plant as a biomass energy source

Oil seed plants are important biomass energy sources.;The rapeseed plant, which yields a high amount of vegetable oil has a major position among other oil seed plane. In this study the se aw stalk of the rapeseed plant (type 00 Brassica napus L.) has been investigated as a candidate for a biomass energy source

EFFECTS OF SITTING UP FOR THREE MINUTES OR ONE MINUTE VERSUS IMMEDIATELY LYING DOWN AFTER SPINAL ANESTHESIA FOR CESAREAN SECTION

16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) -- AUG 28-SEP 02, 2016 -- Hong Kong, PEOPLES R CHINAWOS: 000412764400193Soc Anaesthetists Hong Kong, World Federat Soc Anaesthesio

Unusual Benign Solid Neoplasms Of The Kidney: Cross-Sectional Imaging Findings

Kidney neoplasms are common diseases with varying prognoses depending on the subtype of the tumor. The most common solid lesion of the kidney is renal cell carcinoma, and the treatment is typically surgical removal. With increasing use of cross-sectional imaging in the last two decades, the detection of renal lesions has significantly increased, especially in asymptomatic patients who are scanned for other reasons. In this article, we present the imaging findings of rare solid benign primary kidney neoplasms including renal leiomyoma, reninoma, carcinoid tumor, metanephric adenoma, solitary fibrous tumor of the kidney, lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the kidney, renal schwannoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the kidney, extramedullary hematopoiesis in the kidney, and extranodal renal Rosai-Dorfman disease. Accurate preoperative or prebiopsy diagnoses of these lesions are unusual; however, informed radiologists may sometimes be able to favorably change the patient management and treatment.WoSScopu