Imaging regulatory T cell dynamics and CTLA4-mediated suppression of T cell priming

Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain immune homoeostasis through mechanisms that remain incompletely defined. Here by two-photon (2P) imaging, we examine the cellular dynamics of endogenous Tregs. Tregs are identified as two non-overlapping populations in the T-zone and follicular regions of the lymph node (LN). In the T-zone, Tregs migrate more rapidly than conventional T cells (Tconv), extend longer processes and interact with resident dendritic cells (DC) and Tconv. Tregs intercept immigrant DCs and interact with antigen-induced DC: Tconv clusters, while continuing to form contacts with activated Tconv. During antigen-specific responses, blocking CTLA4-B7 interactions reduces Treg-Tconv interaction times, increases the volume of DC: Tconv clusters and enhances subsequent Tconv proliferation in vivo. Our results demonstrate a role for altered cellular choreography of Tregs through CTLA4-based interactions to limit T-cell priming

Cancers du larynx etude retrospective à propos de 90 cas

Objectif : Le cancer du larynx est parmi les premiers cancers de la sphère oto-rhino laryngée. La dysphonie constitue le maître symptôme révélateur et peut être associée à une dyspnée selon la localisation tumorale. Il s’agit essentiellement d’un carcinome épidermoide. L’alcoolo-tabagisme joue un rôle important dans la genèse de ce cancer.Matériel et méthodes: Notre étude est rétrospective à propos de 90 cas colligés sur une période de 18 ans (1990-2007).Résultats : La prédominance du sexe masculin est nette avec une seule femme dans notre série. Le pic d’âge est entre 60 et 70 ans. 98,9% de nos patients sont des fumeurs chroniques. 14,4% ont été suivis pour une laryngite chronique. La dysphonie a été retrouvée chez tous nos patients. Le délai de consultation moyen est relativement long avec une moyennede 8 mois. Le point de départ de la tumeur a été le plan glottique dans 72,2% et sus glottique dans 23,4%. Le type histologique le plus fréquent est le carcinome épidermoïde dans 92,2%. Le bilan d’extension a systématiquement comporté une endoscopie sous anesthésie générale avec une tomodensitométrie. La majorité de nos malades ont été classésT3-T4 et ceci dans 31,4%. Le taux de survie globale à 5 ans a été de 57,1%.Conclusion : Le cancer du larynx est un cancer du sujet de sexe masculin surtout alcoolo-tabagique. Le bilan endoscopique et radiologique essentiellement scanographique va permettre un bilan d’extension et guider ainsi la conduite thérapeutique. Le traitement est essentiellement chirurgical, couplé parfois à une radiothérapie ou une chimiothérapie.Le pronostic est le plus fréquemment favorable surtout si le diagnostic est précoce.Mots-clés : Larynx, Cancer, Tomodensitométrie,Traitemen

The Risk of Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Cameroonian Primiparous Women Aged More Than 26 Years

Primiparas with advanced age are predisposed to adverse maternal and neonatal risks. The aim of this retrospective cohort study, conducted between January 1st and December 31st, 2004 in the maternity of the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon, was to identify from what age these adverse risks become significant in Cameroonian women. The medical files of 233 primiparae aged 26 and above (case) and that of 404 primiparae aged between 20 and 25 years (control) were reviewed and some data compared. Cesarean sections, instrumental deliveries, low Apgar scores at 5th minute and early neonatal death rates were significantly higher in primiparae aged 27 years and above. Hence, Cameroonian women should be enlightened about the risks of delaying first delivery. Furthermore, first pregnancies to be carried at term and first deliveries in women aged 27 and above shall be considered at high risk and consequently well followed.Keywords primiparas aged more than 26 years; soft tissue dystocia; increased cesarean section risk; poor neonatal outcom

Hardware Implementation of a Solar-Powered Buck-Boost Converter for Enhanced Cathodic Protection Using Texas Instruments C2000 Board

This article delves into the hardware implementation of a buck-boost converter on a Texas Instruments C2000 board, tailored for impressed current cathodic protection to safeguard submerged metal structures against corrosion. Impressed current cathodic protection is vital for combating corrosion in buried or submerged metal structures, where a reliable power supply is crucial. The use of solar energy captured by photovoltaic panels emerges as an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution for this critical application. The paper examines the design, hardware implementation, and system performance, focusing on the integration of the Texas Instruments C2000 board which is, pivotal for the automation and success of the impressed current cathodic protection system. The developed work aims to advance the sustainability of submerged metal structures by presenting a solution combining impressed current cathodic protection with the ecological advantages of solar energy

The mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin B instructs non-mucosal dendritic cells to promote IgA production via retinoic acid and TGF-β

It is currently unknown how mucosal adjuvants cause induction of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), and how T cell-dependent (TD) or -independent (TI) pathways might be involved. Mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) are the primary antigen presenting cells driving TI IgA synthesis, by producing a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), B cell activating factor (BAFF), Retinoic Acid (RA), TGF-beta or nitric oxide (NO). We hypothesized that the mucosal adjuvant Cholera Toxin subunit B (CTB) could imprint non-mucosal DCs to induce IgA synthesis, and studied the mechanism of its induction. In vitro, CTB-treated bone marrow derived DCs primed for IgA production by B cells without the help of T cells, yet required co-signaling by different Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands acting via the MyD88 pathway. CTB-DC induced IgA production was blocked in vitro or in vivo when RA receptor antagonist, TGF-beta signaling inhibitor or neutralizing anti-TGF-beta was added, demonstrating the involvement of RA and TGF-beta in promoting IgA responses. There was no major involvement for BAFF, APRIL or NO. This study highlights that synergism between CTB and MyD88-dependent TLR signals selectively imprints a TI IgA-inducing capacity in non-mucosal DCs, explaining how CTB acts as an IgA promoting adjuvant

Do Multinational enterprises push up wages of domestic firms in the Italian Manufacturing sector?

This paper analyzes the effects of foreign direct investment on wages paid by domestic firms in the Italian manufacturing sector over the period 2002–2007. In particular, the authors investigate the im-pact of multinational enterprises on wages paid by local firms which operate in the same industry, known and horizontal wage spillovers, or have linkages with multinational enterprises in both downstream and upstream industries, known as vertical wage spillovers. By using a large panel dataset, consisting of 551,000 observations, the authors find evidence of wage spillovers only at inter-industry level and, more specifically, for those firms who supply their goods to multinational enterprises, described as backward wage spillovers. Moreover, findings suggest that the wage spillover effect is strongly affected by the technological gap between local and foreign firms: only workers employed in domestic firms with a low-medium technological absorptive capacity seem to benefit from the presence of multinational enterprises in terms of higher wages

Longitudinal changes in functional connectivity of cortico-basal ganglia networks in manifests and premanifest huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurological disorder resulting in cognitive and motor impairments. We evaluated the longitudinal changes of functional connectivity in sensorimotor, associative and limbic cortico-basal ganglia networks. We acquired structural MRI and resting-state fMRI in three visits one year apart, in 18 adult HD patients, 24 asymptomatic mutation carriers (preHD) and 18 gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers from the TRACK-HD study. We inferred topological changes in functional connectivity between 182 regions within cortico-basal ganglia networks using graph theory measures. We found significant differences for global graph theory measures in HD but not in preHD. The average shortest path length (L) decreased, which indicated a change toward the random network topology. HD patients also demonstrated increases in degree k, reduced betweeness centrality bc and reduced clustering C. Changes predominated in the sensorimotor network for bc and C and were observed in all circuits for k. Hubs were reduced in preHD and no longer detectable in HD in the sensorimotor and associative networks. Changes in graph theory metrics (L, k, C and bc) correlated with four clinical and cognitive measures (symbol digit modalities test, Stroop, Burden and UHDRS). There were no changes in graph theory metrics across sessions, which suggests that these measures are not reliable biomarkers of longitudinal changes in HD. preHD is characterized by progressive decreasing hub organization, and these changes aggravate in HD patients with changes in local metrics. HD is characterized by progressive changes in global network interconnectivity, whose network topology becomes more random over time. Hum Brain Mapp, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

RF assisted switching in magnetic Josephson junctions

We test the effect of an external RF field on the switching processes of magnetic Josephson junctions (MJJs) suitable for the realization of fast, scalable cryogenic memories compatible with Single Flux Quantum logic. We show that the combined application of microwaves and magnetic field pulses can improve the performances of the device, increasing the separation between the critical current levels corresponding to logical "0" and "1." The enhancement of the current level separation can be as high as 80% using an optimal set of parameters. We demonstrate that external RF fields can be used as an additional tool to manipulate the memory states, and we expect that this approach may lead to the development of new methods of selecting MJJs and manipulating their states in memory arrays for various applications

Is It Crucial to Provide Text Book of Ecology?

General ecology is a science that is the basis for environmental science. Good ecological understanding will encourage practices of natural resource management that are environmentally friendly. To achieve these objectives students should be equipped with adequate ecological knowledge. In addition to the learning process in the classroom that is conducive, providing learning support elements, including textbooks, will also ease students in understanding the ecology. This study aimed to evaluate the availability of reference books and textbooks and to identify learning materials characteristics that can assist and facilitate students in learning ecology. The results showed the need for a text book which is in accordance with local conditions and keep updated with the latest developments in the field of ecology.  The book will be the main resource in learning the general ecology