Number Of Tr Research Articles

Abstract P2-12-14: Effect of moderate physical exercise on the immune system modulation in breast cancer patients during preoperative chemotherapy: The NEO-RUNNER study

Abstract Background It is known that the biological mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise is linked to immune system stimulation. However, immune mechanisms activated by physical activity are not yet fully understood. We tried to investigate the immune effect of moderate physical activity (MPA), nordic or fit walking, during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer (BC) patients. Methods Patients candidate to NACT were enrolled. NACT consisted of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide for 4 cycles and weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks. Trastuzumab and carboplatin were added in HER2 positive and high-risk triple negative BC pts, respectively. Blood samples from pts underwent MPA (TR) were collected at baseline (T0), during CT before starting MPA (T1), before surgery (S) (T2) and after S (T3). Samples were also collected in a group of pts not exposed to MPA (UN) at the same timepoints and in 15 healthy volunteers (HV). MPA consisted of 3 workouts per week, 1 hour each, in the 9-10 weeks before S. The immune profile at each timepoint was evaluated measuring the concentration of 17 cytokines (cys) (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, CCL-2, CCL-4, CXCL-10, CCL-22, IFN-γ, TGF-β, TNF-α, VEGF). Differences in the median cys values were analyzed with non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components (HCPC) were performed to cluster subjects using only the cys able to discriminate TR and UN groups, identified by Receiving Operating Curve (ROC) analysis as variables. Results The study is ongoing. Up to now 52 pts have been enrolled and 39 fully analyzed: 18 TR and 21 UN. The present report focuses on MPA effect. A significant increase of IL-2, CXCL-10 and CCL-22 was found from T1 to T2 in TR pts. IL-2 increased also from T1 to T3. At T1 UN had higher levels of IL-4 and TGF-β compared to TR pts. At T2 IL-6, CCL-2, VEGF and TGF- β levels were significantly higher in UN than in TR pts. At T3 IL-8 level was significantly higher in UN compared to TR pts. ROC Analysis identified 6 cys (IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, CCL-2, VEGF and TGF-β). Using them, HCPC identified 7 clusters at T1, 4 at T2 and 3 at T3. At T1 100% of HV was distributed in cluster 1 and 3. Cluster 1 included also 23.8% of TR and 16.7% of UN pts. The remaining clusters contained only UN and TR mixed populations. At T2: cluster 1 included 86.7% HV, 47.6% TR and 11.1% UN pts. Cluster 2 included 27.7% UN, 38.1% TR pts and 13.3% HV. Cluster 3 encompassed 55.5% UN and 14.3% TR pts. At T3 a very large cluster included 93.3% of HV 66.7% of TR and 61.1% of UN pts. Conclusions Longitudinal analysis showed that cys levels were influenced by MPA. Moreover, at T2 several cys were significantly lower in TR compared to UN pts as possible consequence of MPA. Selecting only the best discriminating cys at T1 a small number of TR and UN pts join the cluster of HV. However, the UN group remains substantially constant after MPA while, almost half of TR pts resettled near HV. Intriguingly, the same cys may separate UN from TR pts, suggesting that cys could also contain enough information to identify the two pts groups. In TR pts MPA may help to restore the immune profile similar to that of HV. At T3, the same percentage of TR and UN pts were close to HV indicating that tumor removal damped the cancer related anti-inflammatory status. Citation Format: Ornella Garrone, Matteo Paccagnella, Fiorella Ruatta, Andrea Abbona, Antonella Falletta, Paola Vanella, Nerina Denaro, Marco C Merlano. Effect of moderate physical exercise on the immune system modulation in breast cancer patients during preoperative chemotherapy: The NEO-RUNNER study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-12-14.

Взаимосвязь числа и агрегационной способности тромбоцитов с процессом перекисного окисления липидов у больных хроническим гепатитом С

The purpose — to determine the role of the relationship between the number and aggregation capacity of platelets (Tr) with the process of lipid peroxidation (POL) in the natural course of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Material and methods. 332 patients with HCV were observed, divided into three groups according to the phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation and the number of Tr: the first group — the hypercoagulation phase (Tr > 330 x 109/l, n = 22); the second — the transition phase (Tr from 330 to 200 x 109/L, n = 132); the third — hypocoagulation (Tr < 200 x 109/L, n = 178). The vascular-platelet link of hemostasis was evaluated by the number and degree of maximum amplitude (MA) of spontaneous Tr aggregation. The POL process was studied by medium-weight molecules (MSM), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), and enzymes — superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced (VG) and oxidized (OG) glutathione. Results. The decrease in the number of Trs against the background of prolonged infection with the hepatitis C virus was accompanied by a decrease in the antioxidant potential, an increase in the intensity of lipoperoxidation and an increase in the ability of Tr to aggregate, especially pronounced in the phase of hypocoagulation. Correlations were revealed: the numbers Tr showed inverse correlation with the levels of SOD, MSM, MDA, OG and direct correlation with VG; MA of spontaneous aggregation Tr showed direct correlation with MSM, MDA, SOD, OG and inverse correlation with VG. Conclusions. Changes in the number and aggregation ability of Tr, the level of POL products in the course of the natural course of HCV, in parallel with the ALT enzyme, reflect the activity of the infectious process. The number and MA of spontaneous Tr aggregation in patients with natural HCV with exacerbation of the disease correlate with a reduced antioxidant potential and increased intensity of lipoperoxidation. The natural course of HCV is characterized by a multidirectional change in the AOS enzymes – an increase in the SOD level and a decrease in the amount of reduced glutathione with a simultaneous increase in the oxidized one.

Morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla in adults of Xylotrechus quadripes.

Xylotrechus quadripes (Chevrolat) is the serious woodborer pest of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.). To further elucidate the behavior mechanism of the insect based on chemical odorant and to advance effective trapping methods, the typology, distribution, and abundance of antennal sensilla were investigated meticulously in both sexes of X. quadripes by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform antennae of both sexes are composed of 11 segments, namely the scape, pedicel, and nine flagellomeres (f1-9). Ten types (14 subtypes) of sensilla were identified morphologically: sensilla chaetica (three subtypes, Ch.1-3), sensilla basiconica (three subtypes, Ba.1-3), Böhm bristles (Bb), sensilla dentiform (De), sensilla trichodea (Tr), sensilla auricillica (Au), sensilla campaniformia (Ca), grooved peg sensilla (Gp), cuticular pores (Cp), and a newly observed sensillum, named sensilla cone (Cone). The sensilla were mainly distributed in flagellomeres, and the types and amounts increased in frequency from scape to the ninth flagellomere. The numbers of sensilla were the highest on the antennal dorsal side, while the lowest on the ventral side. The types of sensilla were the most abundant on the lateral side, and two sensilla basiconica (Ba.1-2) were found exclusively. The average number of Tr, Ba, and Au on the antenna of the males was significantly greater than females, while the Gp and Cp on the antenna of the females were significantly greater than males. Ca was exclusively occurred on the male antennae but was absent in females. This study discusses the putative functions of the antennal sensilla in adults of X. quadripes based on their characteristics in related species' sensilla, and these results provide an important foundation to clarify the ecological adaption, olfactory recognition mechanism, and to develop the chemical ecology control of X. quadripes.

Роль тромбоцитов как одного из маркеров активности инфекционного процесса у больных хроническим гепатитом С с обострением естественного течения болезни

The purpose. To determine the role of Tr as one of the prognostic signs of the infectious process activation in case of exacerbation of the natural course of CHC at various periods of infection against the background of functional liver failure. Material and methods. 460 people (244 men and 216 women) were observed, divided into three groups depending on the number of Tr, according to the phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC): group I — hypercoagulation: Tr > 350 x 109/l, n = 36; group II — phase of multidirectional shifts: Tr 350–200 x 109/l, n = 148; group III — hypocoagulation: Tr < 200 x 109/l, n = 276, including patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 97) in the CHC outcome. We analyzed the number of Tr and their maximum amplitude (MA) of spontaneous aggregation in patients with an active infectious process, which is manifested clinically by indicators of liver functional tests (alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and its direct fraction, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin) and the degree of fibrosis. Conclusion. The number and function of blood platelets in exacerbation of HCV are closely related not only to inflammation of the liver tissue, but also to the duration of infection, which is reflected in the manifestations of DIC syndrome. The longer the time of infection and the more active the infection process, the more pronounced the phase of hypocoagulation with a low Tr number, signs of cholestasis and fibrosis of the liver tissue. The relationship between the decrease in the number of platelets with impaired liver function tests and the severity of fibrosis is confirmed by the presence of correlations between them. Regardless of the phases of the DIC syndrome, an increase in the MA of spontaneous Tr aggregation is characteristic, especially expressed in the hypocoagulation phase.

Activity an enzyme 5`-nucleotidase in patients with chronic hepatitis C

To determine the activity of enzyme 5`-nucleotidase depending on the of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome phases and duration of infection period in patients with chronic hepatitis C. 166 patients (92 men, 74 women) with chronic hepatitis C were under observation. Conditionally, all patients were devided into 3 groups, based on the number of Tr, according to the phases of hemostasis: I group - hypercoagulation with number Tr>350×109/l; II - transient phase - Tr from 350 to 200×109/l and III - hypocoagulation - Tr.

INDICATORS OF HEMOSTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Goal of the study is to reveal the particular features of hemostasis in patients with chronic hepatitis C in dynamics of natural course of disease. Materials and methods. The indices of hemostasis in 535 patients with chronic hepatitis C were assessed by the number of platelets, degree of their aggregation with the use of inductor of adenosine triphosphate and without it (spontaneous aggregation of platelets). Coagulative hemostasis was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time, antitrombin III, prothrombin ratio, prothrombin time, fibrinogen concentration in plasma and international normalized ratio. Based on the number of Tr, typical for the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, conditionally the patients were divided into 3 groups: I group - hypercoagulability; II - transient phase between hyper and hypocoagulation and III- hypocoagulation, which also included patients with liver cirrhosis. Results and discussion. Independent on the phase of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, increase of aggregation of Tr with the growth of maximal amplitude was observed. The main part of studied indices of coagulative hemostasis indicated at the condition of hypocoagulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C - this is significant increase of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio and decrease of fibrinogen concentration in the studied groups by the phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Value of antitrombin III changed oppositely, it decreased, so that plasma hemostasis tends to the hypercoagulation. Conclusion. Under the chronic hepatitis C all phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome were observed with the disorder of thrombocytic coagulative hemostasis. There was followed up multidirectional change of hemostasis which obtained in the most cases character of delitescent course of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.

INDICATORS OF HEMOSTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Goal of the study is to reveal the particular features of hemostasis in patients with chronic hepatitis C in dynamics of natural course of disease. Materials and methods. The indices of hemostasis in 535 patients with chronic hepatitis C were assessed by the number of platelets, degree of their aggregation with the use of inductor of adenosine triphosphate and without it (spontaneous aggregation of platelets). Coagulative hemostasis was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time, antitrombin III, prothrombin ratio, prothrombin time, fibrinogen concentration in plasma and international normalized ratio. Based on the number of Tr, typical for the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, conditionally the patients were divided into 3 groups: I group - hypercoagulability; II - transient phase between hyper and hypocoagulation and III- hypocoagulation, which also included patients with liver cirrhosis. Results and discussion. Independent on the phase of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, increase of aggregation of Tr with the growth of maximal amplitude was observed. The main part of studied indices of coagulative hemostasis indicated at the condition of hypocoagulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C - this is significant increase of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio and decrease of fibrinogen concentration in the studied groups by the phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Value of antitrombin III changed oppositely, it decreased, so that plasma hemostasis tends to the hypercoagulation. Conclusion. Under the chronic hepatitis C all phases of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome were observed with the disorder of thrombocytic coagulative hemostasis. There was followed up multidirectional change of hemostasis which obtained in the most cases character of delitescent course of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.

On the number of r-transitive orientations of G(n,p)

We study the number of orientations Tr(n,p) of the binomial random graph G(n,p) in which every copy of Kr is transitive. We give the correct order of growth of log2⁡Tr(n,p) up to polylogarithmic factors. In particular, this significantly improves a result of Allen, Kohayakawa, Mota and Parente on T3(n,p).

FOXP3-stained image analysis for follicular lymphoma: Optimal adaptive thresholding with maximal nucleus coverage.

Immunohistochemical detection of FOXP3 antigen is a usable marker for detection of regulatory T lymphocytes (TR) in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded sections of different types of tumor tissue. TR plays a major role in homeostasis of normal immune systems where they prevent auto reactivity of the immune system towards the host. This beneficial effect of TR is frequently "hijacked" by malignant cells where tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells are recruited by the malignant nuclei to inhibit the beneficial immune response of the host against the tumor cells. In the majority of human solid tumors, an increased number of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3 positive TR is associated with worse outcome. However, in follicular lymphoma (FL) the impact of the number and distribution of TR on the outcome still remains controversial. In this study, we present a novel method to detect and enumerate nuclei from FOXP3 stained images of FL biopsies. The proposed method defines a new adaptive thresholding procedure, namely the optimal adaptive thresholding (OAT) method, which aims to minimize under-segmented and over-segmented nuclei for coarse segmentation. Next, we integrate a parameter free elliptical arc and line segment detector (ELSD) as additional information to refine segmentation results and to split most of the merged nuclei. Finally, we utilize a state-of-the-art super-pixel method, Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) to split the rest of the merged nuclei. Our dataset consists of 13 region-of-interest images containing 769 negative and 88 positive nuclei. Three expert pathologists evaluated the method and reported sensitivity values in detecting negative and positive nuclei ranging from 83-100% and 90-95%, and precision values of 98-100% and 99-100%, respectively. The proposed solution can be used to investigate the impact of FOXP3 positive nuclei on the outcome and prognosis in FL.

Volumetric multislice gagCEST imaging of articular cartilage: Optimization and comparison with T1rho

To develop and optimize a multislice glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chemical exchange saturation transfer (GagCEST) sequence for volumetric imaging of articular cartilage, and to validate the sequence against T1ρ relaxation times in whole joint imaging of tibiotalar cartilage. Ex vivo experiments were used to observe the effect of the number of partitions and shot TR on signal-to-noise ratio and measured GagCESTasym . GagCEST imaging of the entire tibiotalar joint was also performed on 10 healthy subjects. The measured GagCESTasym was compared and correlated with T1ρ relaxation times. Ex vivo studies showed a higher average GagCESTasym from articular cartilage on multislice acquisitions acquired with two or more partitions than observed with a single-slice acquisition. In healthy human subjects, an average GagCESTasym of 8.8 ± 0.7% was observed. A coefficient of variation of GagCESTasym across slices of less than 15% was seen for all subjects. Across subjects, a Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.58 was observed between the measured gagCESTasym and T1ρ relaxation times. We demonstrated the feasibility and optimization of multislice GagCEST mapping of articular cartilage. Volumetric analysis and decreased scan times will help to advance the clinical utility of GagCEST imaging of articular cartilage. Magn Reson Med 77:1134-1141, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Optimizing full-brain coverage in human brain MRI through population distributions of brain size

When defining an MRI protocol, brain researchers need to set multiple interdependent parameters that define repetition time (TR), voxel size, field-of-view (FOV), etc. Typically, researchers aim to image the full brain, making the expected FOV an important parameter to consider. Especially in 2D-EPI sequences, non-wasteful FOV settings are important to achieve the best temporal and spatial resolution. In practice, however, imperfect FOV size estimation often results in partial brain coverage for a significant number of participants per study, or, alternatively, an unnecessarily large voxel-size or number of slices to guarantee full brain coverage. To provide normative FOV guidelines we estimated population distributions of brain size in the x-, y-, and z-direction using data from 14,781 individuals. Our results indicated that 11mm in the z-direction differentiate between obtaining full brain coverage for 90% vs. 99.9% of participants. Importantly, we observed that rotating the FOV to optimally cover the brain, and thus minimize the number of slices needed, effectively reduces the required inferior–superior FOV size by ~5%. For a typical adult imaging study, 99.9% of the population can be imaged with full brain coverage when using an inferior–superior FOV of 142mm, assuming optimal slice orientation and minimal within-scan head motion. By providing population distributions for brain size in the x-, y-, and z-direction we improve the potential for obtaining full brain coverage, especially in 2D-EPI sequences used in most functional and diffusion MRI studies. We further enable optimization of related imaging parameters including the number of slices, TR and total acquisition time.

Response to methylphenidate by adult and pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the Spanish multicenter DIHANA study

Background:The purpose of this multicenter Spanish study was to evaluate the response to immediate-release methylphenidate by children and adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as to obtain information on current therapy patterns and safety characteristics.Methods:This multicenter, observational, retrospective, noninterventional study included 730 patients aged 4–65 years with a diagnosis of ADHD. Information was obtained based on a review of medical records for the years 2002–2006 in sequential order.Results:The ADHD predominantly inattentive subtype affected 29.7% of patients, ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive was found in 5.2%, and the combined subtype in 65.1%. Overall, a significant lower Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score and mean number of DSM-IV TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Text Revision) symptoms by subtype were found after one year of treatment with immediate-release methylphenidate; CGI decreased from 4.51 to 1.69, symptoms of inattention from 7.90 to 4.34, symptoms of hyperactivity from 6.73 to 3.39, and combined subtype symptoms from 14.62 to 7.7. Satisfaction with immediate-release methylphenidate after one year was evaluated as “very satisfied” or “satisfied” by 86.90% of the sample; 25.75% of all patients reported at least one adverse effect. At the end of the study, 41.47% of all the patients treated with immediate-release methylphenidate were still receiving it, with a mean time of 3.80 years on therapy.Conclusion:Good efficacy and safety results were found for immediate-release methylphenidate in patients with ADHD.

Expression and clinical significance of PD-1 on CD4+CD25high Tr and CD4+ CD25low T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To detect the frequency of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25high Tr and CD4+CD25lowT cells and expression of programmed death-1 ( PD-1 ) on their surface in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and their clinical signifcance is analyzed.Methods The expression of PD-1 on the CD4+ CD25highTr and CD4+CD25lowT cells was examined in patients with 33 active SLE,18 inactive SLE and 38 healthy controls(HC) by flow cytometry.Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of SLE were collected.Patients were divided into two groups according to their disease activity.SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) score≥10 was defined as high disease activity and ＜10 as inactivity.The percentage of CD4+ CD25highTr and CD4+CD25lowT cells and proportions of expression of PD-1 on their surface were compared between not only inactive or active SLE patients and healthy controls (HC),but also between patients with lupus nephritis and without lupus nephritis.Correlation with clincal manifestations and laboratory findings was analyzed.Results (1)The proportions of CD4+CD25highTr and CD4+CD25low T cells were significantly decreased in active and inactive SLE patients as compared with HC.(2)The percentage of CD4+ CD25lowPD-1 +Tr and in active and inactive SLE patients were higher than HC.The proportions of CD4+CD25lowPD-1+ T cells were significantly increased in HC and inactive SLE patients as compared with inactive SLE patients.(3) The proportions of CD4+CD25highPD-1+Tr in SLE patients with nephritis were higher than those in patients without nephritis.But the percentage of CD4+ CD25 lowPD-1 + T cells was significantly decreased in SLE patients with nephritis as compared those without nephritis.(4)A positive correlation was observed for proportions of CD4+CD25highPD-1 + T cells with SLEDAI score.Proportions of CD4+ CD25high Tr,CD4+ CD25low PD-1 + T cells was inversely correlated with SLEDAI score.Conclusion The aberrations of proportions of CD4+CD25highpD-1+,CD4+CD25lowPD-1+,CD4+CD25high and CD4+CD25low T cells were observed in patients with SLE.The abnormality of PD-1 and PD-L1 pathway may play an important role in the function and number of Tr. Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus; Regulatory T cell ; PD-1

Does otolith macrostructure record environmental or biological events? The case of black hake ( Me rluccius polli and Merluccius senegalensis)

Fish age determination using otoliths requires a prior understanding of growth mark deposition patterns (translucent rings, TR) as well as their connection with internal or external events experienced by the fish. This study analysed the macrostructural seasonal ring deposition pattern observed in transversal sections of black hake otoliths. A total of 793 black hake otoliths were collected in autumn and spring 2007 from research and commercial surveys carried out in continental and shelf waters off Mauritania. Most of the Merluccius polli otoliths presented narrow and wide translucent rings (NTR and WTR, respectively) regardless of fish size, whereas Merluccius senegalensis otoliths only showed NTR. This seemed to be a sign of ontogenetic discrepancy between the two black hake species, whose otoliths confirmed the existence of significant differences in their growth patterns. The frequency distributions of the number of TR counted along the ventral radius (VR) of the otolith from the nucleus (birth date) and from the ventral edge (death date) were analysed to ascertain whether a specific endogenous event ( Hypothesis A) or a precise environmental event ( Hypothesis B) could restrain growth leading to the formation of TR. The general TR frequency distribution pattern was somewhat similar for both hake species, which showed marked TR at comparable distances. Within each species, TR frequency distributions of their distances from the nucleus along the otolith VR were quite similar between sexes, seasons, and fish sizes. Our results support the idea of a coincident biological event, such as first maturity, slowing down the growth process and thus provoking the formation of TR in otoliths of both species. This study also experience difficulty using the complex and highly variable macrostructural pattern of black hake otoliths to establish age interpretation criteria for these two species.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Antennae of <I>Aphidoletes aphidimyza</I> (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The morphology of antennae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza was observed with a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that both male and female were fourteen segmented, the male was approximately 2000μ m and the female was 1050 μm. Six types of sensillae on the antenna were observed, viz. chaetica (Ch), trichoidea (Tr), basiconica (Ba), cavity (Ca), styloid (St) and circumfila (Ci) on the antennae of A. aphidimyza. Sensillae Ch had a long external-process, with a base surrounded by membranous sockets and a length of about 67.5 μm. Sensillae Tr were distally curved and inserted into a depression, 61.0 μm long. Sensillae Ba were peg-like and 4.7 μm long on the antennae. Sensillae Ca were pit-like in appearance and the diameter of the pit was 1.2 μm. Sensilla St was found on the second sub-segment flagellum of the male antennae. The length of the sensilla was about 21 μm and the diameter was 1.5 μm. The circumfila, which are a unique type of sensilla found only on cecidomyiid antennae, formed loops around each of the antennal sub-segments, and were attached to the surface by a series of stalks. Sensilla St was only present on male antenna. The number of Ba and Tr was almost the same in both sexes. There were more Sensilla Ca on the male antenna than on the female, while there was more Ch on the female.

Ex vivo activated OVA specific and non-specific CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells exhibit comparable suppression to OVA mediated T cell responses

CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells (Tr) are important in maintaining immune tolerance to self-antigen (Ag) and preventing autoimmunity. Reduced number and inadequate function of Tr are observed in chronic autoimmune diseases. Adoptively transferred Tr effectively suppress ongoing autoimmune disease in multiple animal models. Therefore, strategies to modulate Tr have become an attractive approach to control autoimmunity. Activation of Tr is necessary for their optimal immune regulatory function. However, due to the low ratio of Tr to any given antigen (Ag) and the unknown nature of Ag in many autoimmune diseases, specific activation is not practical for potential therapeutic intervention. It has been shown in animal models that once activated, Tr can exhibit immune suppression in a bystander Ag-non-specific fashion, suggesting the effector phase of Tr is Ag independent. To investigate whether the immune suppression by activated bystander Tr is as potent as that of the Ag specific Tr, Tr cells were isolated from BALB/c or ovalbumin (OVA) specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice (DO11.10) and their immune suppression of an OVA specific T cell response was compared. We found that once activated ex vivo, Tr from BALB/c and DO11.10 mice exhibited comparable inhibition on OVA specific T cell responses as determined by T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Furthermore, their immune suppression function was compared in a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) model induced by OVA specific T cells. Again, OVA specific and non-specific Tr exhibited similar inhibition of the DTH response. Taken together, the results indicate that ex vivo activated Ag-non-specific Tr are as efficient as Ag specific Tr in immune suppression, therefore our study provides additional evidence suggesting the possibility of applying ex vivo activated Tr therapy for the control of autoimmunity.

Expression of telomerase RNA template, but not telomerase reverse transcriptase, is limiting for telomere length maintenance in vivo.

Telomerase consists of two essential components, the telomerase RNA template (TR) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). The haplo-insufficiency of TR was recently shown to cause one form of human dyskeratosis congenita, an inherited disease marked by abnormal telomere shortening. Consistent with this finding, we recently reported that mice heterozygous for inactivation of mouse TR exhibit a similar haplo-insufficiency and are deficient in the ability to elongate telomeres in vivo. To further assess the genetic regulation of telomerase activity, we have compared the abilities of TR-deficient and TERT-deficient mice to maintain or elongate telomeres in interspecies crosses. Homozygous TERT knockout mice had no telomerase activity and failed to maintain telomere length. In contrast, TERT(+/-) heterozygotes had no detectable defect in telomere elongation compared to wild-type controls, whereas TR(+/-) heterozygotes were deficient in telomere elongation. Levels of TERT mRNA in heterozygous mice were one-third to one-half the levels expressed in wild-type mice, similar to the reductions in telomerase RNA observed in TR heterozygotes. These findings indicate that both TR and TERT are essential for telomere maintenance and elongation but that gene copy number and transcriptional regulation of TR, but not TERT, are limiting for telomerase activity under the in vivo conditions analyzed.

A Look at Global Tropical Cyclone Activity during 1995: Contrasting High Atlantic Activity with Low Activity in Other Basins

Abstract During 1995, there was a near-record number of named tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic basin. This unusual event fueled speculation that it marked a tangible signal of global climate change, or that it marked a return to a period of higher tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic, such as that which has been documented to have occurred during the decades of the 1940s through the 1960s. Less publicized, the tropical cyclone activity in other basins during 1995 was almost everywhere below normal. The concept of global and basin “prolific” years and “meager” years is introduced. During the past 30 years, the Atlantic has had two prolific years: 1969 and 1995. Although the annual number of tropical cyclones in each of the other basins is uncorrelated with the annual number of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, the two Atlantic prolific years of 1969 and 1995 were meager years in some of the other major basins, and below normal years in all of them. In the time series of the annual number of tr...

Investigation of BOLD contrast in fMRI using multi-shot EPI.

High resolution volume coverage of the brain in fMRI studies can be accomplished using multi-slice, multi-shot EPI. We demonstrate that the optimum contrast sensitivity in BOLD based fMRI experiments using multi-shot EPI is achieved by using the shortest possible TR values between segments and the longest tolerable echo train length. For a fixed paradigm time, acquiring the largest number of images under these conditions yields the best statistical detection thresholds. For a multi-slice multi-shot EPI fMRI study, the best approach is to perform the acquisition of all the segments in a single slice before continuing on to each of the slices in turn. Our results regarding the number of shots and TR are also applicable to other multi-shot techniques such as interleaved spirals.

Genetics of resilience to nematode parasites in Romney sheep

Abstract 7533 Romney lambs, born in 1991 on six farms in the southern North Island of New Zealand, were studied as part of an investigation into the feasibility and implications of breeding sheep whose lambs require minimal anthelmintic treatment to maintain acceptable performance when exposed to challenge by nematode parasites (resilience). They were the progeny of 123 different sires. All flocks involved were genetically linked by the use of reference sires so that analyses could be carried out across farms. After weaning, ram lambs were mustered on 4 or 5 occasions for anthelmintic treatment. Treatment was administered on an individual basis as dictated by body condition and degree of breech‐soiling (selective drenching). Drench requirement data including age at first drench (normalised by transformation to include the 5% of animals not requiring drench treatment), 5 binary scores denoting whether or not a lamb was drenched by Time 1, Time 2 … Time 5 (BY1, BY2… BY5), and total number of drench tr...