Lymphatic vessel density is associated with CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and immunosuppressive factors in human melanoma.

Increased density of tumor-associated lymphatic vessels correlates with poor patient survival in melanoma and other cancers, yet lymphatic drainage is essential for initiating an immune response. Here we asked whether and how lymphatic vessel density (LVD) correlates with immune cell infiltration in primary tumors and lymph nodes (LNs) from patients with cutaneous melanoma. Using immunohistochemistry and quantitative image analysis, we found significant positive correlations between LVD and CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cell infiltration as well as expression of the immunosuppressive molecules inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 2,3-dioxygénase (IDO). Interestingly, similar associations were seen in tumor-free LNs adjacent to metastatic ones, indicating loco-regional effects of tumors. Our data suggest that lymphatic vessels play multiple roles at tumor sites and LNs, promoting both T cell infiltration and adaptive immunosuppressive mechanisms. Lymph vessel associated T cell infiltration may increase immunotherapy success rates provided that the treatment overcomes adaptive immune resistance

Ameliorative Effect of GA3 as Foliar Spray Treatment on Performances of Salt-Stressed Damsisa (Ambrosia maritima L.) Plants

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of foliar spray with GA3 on growth and chemical composition of damsisa plants (Ambrosia maritima L) grown under saline conditions. Results revealed that increasing the concentration of salts reduced, plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, stem diameter, root length, as well as the fresh and dry weight of leaves and roots. Under saline conditions chlorophyll, a. b and total carotenoids, total carbohydrates, total indols, N, P and K were markedly reduced. However, total free amino acids, proline, total and reducing sugars, total and free phenols, Na and total sesquiterpene lactones content in leaves were increased. Treatment with GA3 at 100 ppm nullified the harmful effect of salinity and increased sail tolerance by increasing synthesis of different metabolites (sugars, free amino acids, proline and phenols) and enhancing biochemical and physiological processes and consequently increase the biosynthesis and accumulation of the major active constituent (sesquiterpene lactones) which have an insecticidal activity against bilharzias

Thermal stability and electronic and magnetic properties of atomically thin 2D transition metal oxides

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal oxides (TMOs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials. Using density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, we carried out a systematic study of atomically thin metal oxide phases with compositions MO, M2O3, and MO2, for transition metal elements Sc, Ti, V, Cr, and Mn. We identified nine thermally stable structures that may be realized as free-standing nanosheets: hexagonal h-Sc2O3, h-V2O3, and h-Mn2O3; hexagonal t-VO, t-CrO, and t-MnO; and square sq-TiO, sq-VO, and sq-MnO. The t-MO phases are novel hexagonal structures which emerged naturally from phase transformations observed during AIMD simulations. The 2D TMOs were found to exhibit a wide range of remarkable electronic and magnetic properties, indicating that they are bright candidates for electronic and spintronic applications. Most exceptional in this regard is h-V2O3, that is the only phase that has been experimentally realized so far, and was found to be a ferromagnetic half-metal with Dirac-cone-like bands

Higher 1-year mortality on rest days in patients with acute coronary syndromes and decompensated heart failure-A SPUM-ACS sub-study.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) occurring on rest days have been associated with higher mortality, but the current literature remains inconsistent in this regard. This study included ACS patients presenting with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) investigating the relationship between time of coronary catheterization and outcomes. Analyses were performed from the prospective, multicentric Special Program University Medicine Acute Coronary Syndromes and Inflammation (SPUM-ACS) Cohort. Patients were divided into two groups according to time of coronary catheterization on either workdays (Monday, 00:00 to Friday, 23:59) or rest days (Saturday, 00:00 to Sunday, 23:59 and public holidays). ADHF was defined by Killip Class III or IV upon presentation. Patients were followed over 1 year. Out of 4787 ACS patients enrolled in the SPUM-ACS Cohort, 207 (4.3%) presented with ADHF. 52 (25.1%) and 155 (74.9%) patients underwent coronary angiography on rest days or workdays, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar among these groups. ACS patients with ADHF showed increased 1-year mortality on rest days (34.6% vs. 17.4%, p-value = 0.009). After correction for baseline characteristics, including the GRACE 2.0 Score, rest day presentation remained a significant predictor for 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.42 [95% confidence interval: 1.14-5.17], p-value = 0.022). One-year all-cause mortality was high in ACS patients with ADHF and doubled for patients admitted on rest days. The present data support the association of a rest day effect and long-term patient survival and indicate a need for further investigations