Impaired Upregulation of the Costimulatory Molecules, CD27 and CD28, on CD4(+) T Cells from HIV Patients Receiving ART Is Associated with Poor Proliferative Responses.

HIV patients beginning antiretroviral therapy (ART) with advanced immunodeficiency often retain low CD4(+) T cell counts despite virological control. We examined proliferative responses and upregulation of costimulatory molecules, following anti-CD3 stimulation, in HIV patients with persistent CD4(+) T cell deficiency on ART. Aviremic HIV patients with nadir CD4(+) T cell counts <100 cells/µL and who had received ART for a median time of 7 (range 1-11) years were categorized into those achieving low (<350 cells/µL; n?=?13) or normal (>500 cells/µL; n?=?20) CD4(+) T cell counts. Ten healthy controls were also recruited. CD4(+) T cell proliferation (Ki67) and upregulation of costimulatory molecules (CD27 and CD28) after anti-CD3 stimulation were assessed by flow cytometry. Results were related to proportions of CD4(+) T cells expressing markers of T cell senescence (CD57), activation (HLA-DR), and apoptotic potential (Fas). Expression of CD27 and/or CD28 on uncultured CD4(+) T cells was similar in patients with normal CD4(+) T cell counts and healthy controls, but lower in patients with low CD4(+) T cell counts. Proportions of CD4(+) T cells expressing CD27 and/or CD28 correlated inversely with CD4(+) T cell expression of CD57, HLA-DR, and Fas. After anti-CD3 stimulation, induction of CD27(hi)CD28(hi) expression was independent of CD4(+) T cell counts, but lower in HIV patients than in healthy controls. Induction of CD27(hi)CD28(hi) expression correlated with induction of Ki67 expression in total, naïve, and CD31(+) naïve CD4(+) T cells from patients. In HIV patients responding to ART, impaired induction of CD27 and CD28 on CD4(+) T cells after stimulation with anti-CD3 is associated with poor proliferative responses as well as greater CD4(+) T cell activation and immunosenescence

Morphometric analysis of muscularis proper and myenteric plexus of the normal human oesophagus. Age related changes

Background: Oesophagus is a muscular tube that transports food and liquidsby coordinated contraction of its muscular lining led by stimuli from the nerveplexus. Its muscularis proper layer consists of muscle cells, connective tissue andmyenteric plexus. The aim of our histomorphometric study was to reveal detailedcharacteristics of this layer, cell number, volume, orientation, properties of myentericplexus as well as changes related to aging.Materials and methods: Oesophagus tissue samples from 17 male cadavers weretaken from the cranial and thoracic parts. Samples were divided in 2 groups: younger(ages 21–45) and older (ages 66–78). The tissue was routinely processed,embedded and serially sectioned. Sections were stained with Masson-Goldner andCresyl-violet dyes. Digital images were analysed with the image analysis software.Statistics were performed with SPSS software.Results: The average thickness of the cranial part of the oesophageal wall andmuscularis proper was 2590 μm and 1197 μm, respectively in the younger and2453 μm and 1144 μm in the older group. Overall volume of the muscle tissuewas slightly larger in the thoracic part, and in the younger group comparedto the cranial part and the older group. The average number of the striatedmuscle cells per 100 μm in the cranial part was 771.5 and 749.7 in the youngerand the older group, respectively. Striated cells were significantly lesspresent only in the lower thoracic part of the oesophagus. In the older group,smaller striated muscle cells dominated over the larger ones. In the youngergroup, majority of the striated muscle cells were mid-sized. The thickness ofthe circular layer of muscularis proper was more affected by aging than thelongitudinal one. Ganglion cells number was lower in the older group, butplexus area was unchanged.Conclusions: Aging affects muscularis proper and myenteric plexus of the oesophagus.Major differences can be observed in the striated muscle cells size, volumeof the circular layer and number of the ganglionic cells in the myenteric plexus

Lattice dynamics of FeSb2

The lattice dynamics of FeSb2 is investigated by the first-principles DFT calculations and Raman spectroscopy. All Raman and infra-red active phonon modes are properly assigned. The calculated and measured phonon energies are in good agreement except for the B3g symmetry mode. We have observed strong mixing of the Ag symmetry modes, with the intensity exchange in the temperature range between 210 K and 260 K. The Ag modes repulsion increases by doping FeSb2 with Co. There are no signatures of the electron-phonon interaction for these modes

Wrong turn - No dead end: A stochastic pedestrian motion model

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ARTreat Project: Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Plaque Formation and Development in the Arteries

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements in arteries. It is characterized by dysfunction of endothelium and vasculitis, and accumulation of lipid, cholesterol, and cell elements inside blood vessel wall. In this study, a continuum-based approach for plaque formation and development in 3-D is presented. The blood flow is simulated by the 3-D Navier-Stokes equations, together with the continuity equation while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transport in lumen of the vessel is coupled with Kedem-Katchalsky equations. The inflammatory process was solved using three additional reaction-diffusion partial differential equations. Transport of labeled LDL was fitted with our experiment on the rabbit animal model. Matching with histological data for LDL localization was achieved. Also, 3-D model of the straight artery with initial mild constriction of 30% plaque for formation and development is presented

Quantum Griffiths effects and smeared phase transitions in metals: theory and experiment

In this paper, we review theoretical and experimental research on rare region effects at quantum phase transitions in disordered itinerant electron systems. After summarizing a few basic concepts about phase transitions in the presence of quenched randomness, we introduce the idea of rare regions and discuss their importance. We then analyze in detail the different phenomena that can arise at magnetic quantum phase transitions in disordered metals, including quantum Griffiths singularities, smeared phase transitions, and cluster-glass formation. For each scenario, we discuss the resulting phase diagram and summarize the behavior of various observables. We then review several recent experiments that provide examples of these rare region phenomena. We conclude by discussing limitations of current approaches and open questions.Comment: 31 pages, 7 eps figures included, v2: discussion of the dissipative Ising chain fixed, references added, v3: final version as publishe