Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death modality. It serves important roles in physiology by sculpting complex tissues during embryogenesis and by removing effete ...cells that have reached advanced age or whose genomes have been irreparably damaged. Apoptosis culminates in the rapid and decisive removal of cell corpses by efferocytosis, a term used to distinguish the engulfment of apoptotic cells from other phagocytic processes. Over the past decades, the molecular and cell biological events associated with efferocytosis have been rigorously studied, and many eat-me signals and receptors have been identified. The externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) is arguably the most emblematic eat-me signal that is in turn bound by a large number of serum proteins and opsonins that facilitate efferocytosis. Under physiological conditions, externalized PS functions as a dominant and evolutionarily conserved immunosuppressive signal that promotes tolerance and prevents local and systemic immune activation. Pathologically, the innate immunosuppressive effect of externalized PS has been hijacked by numerous viruses, microorganisms, and parasites to facilitate infection, and in many cases, establish infection latency. PS is also profoundly dysregulated in the tumor microenvironment and antagonizes the development of tumor immunity. In this review, we discuss the biology of PS with respect to its role as a global immunosuppressive signal and how PS is exploited to drive diverse pathological processes such as infection and cancer. Finally, we outline the rationale that agents targeting PS could have significant value in cancer and infectious disease therapeutics.
This study examined associations between cumulative training load, travel demands and recovery days with athlete-reported outcome measures (AROMs) and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in ...professional basketball. Retrospective analysis was performed on data collected from 23 players (mean±SD: age = 24.7±2.5 years, height = 198.3±7.6 cm, body mass = 98.1±9.0 kg, wingspan = 206.8±8.4 cm) from 2018–2020 in the National Basketball Association G-League. Linear mixed models were used to describe variation in AROMs and CMJ data in relation to cumulative training load (previous 3- and 10-days), hours travelled (previous 3- and 10-day), days away from the team’s home city, recovery days (i.e., no travel/minimal on-court activity) and individual factors (e.g., age, fatigue, soreness). Cumulative 3-day training load had negative associations with fatigue, soreness, and sleep, while increased recovery days were associated with improved soreness scores. Increases in hours travelled and days spent away from home over 10 days were associated with increased sleep quality and duration. Cumulative training load over 3 and 10 days, hours travelled and days away from home city were all associated with changes in CMJ performance during the eccentric phase. The interaction of on-court and travel related stressors combined with individual factors is complex, meaning that multiple athletes response measures are needed to understand fatigue and recovery cycles. Our findings support the utility of the response measures presented (i.e., CMJ and AROMs), but this is not an exhaustive battery and practitioners should consider what measures may best inform training periodization within the context of their environment/sport.
Placental transfusion: a review Katheria, A C; Lakshminrusimha, S; Rabe, H ...
Journal of perinatology,
02/2017, Letnik:
37, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Recently there have been a number of studies and presentations on the importance of providing a placental transfusion to the newborn. Early cord clamping is an avoidable, unphysiologic intervention ...that prevents the natural process of placental transfusion. However, placental transfusion, although simple in concept, is affected by multiple factors, is not always straightforward to implement, and can be performed using different methods, making this basic procedure important to discuss. Here, we review three placental transfusion techniques: delayed cord clamping, intact umbilical cord milking and cut-umbilical cord milking, and the evidence in term and preterm newborns supporting this practice. We will also review several factors that influence placental transfusion, and discuss perceived risks versus benefits of this procedure. Finally, we will provide key straightforward concepts and implementation strategies to ensure that placental-to-newborn transfusion can become routine practice at any institution.
The study's objective was to compare hematocrit (Hct) levels at 36 to 48 h of age in term infants delivered by cesarean section exposed to immediate cord clamping or umbilical cord milking (UCM).
In ...this randomized controlled trial, 24 women scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomized to either immediate clamping (<10 s) or UCM (milked × 5 by the obstetrical provider) at birth.
All subjects received their allocated intervention. The milking group had a smaller placental residual blood volume (13.2±5.6 vs 19.2±5.4 ml kg(-1), P=0.01) and higher Hct levels at 36 to 48 h (57.5±6.6 vs 50.0±6.4 %, P=0.01). Five infants (42%) in the immediate group had a Hct of ≤47%, indicative of anemia.
UCM results in placental transfusion in term infants at the time of elective cesarean section with higher Hct levels at 36 to 48 h of age.
Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease and in 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 17.5 million global deaths, corresponding to 31% of all global deaths, were driven by ...inflammation and deposition of lipids into the arterial wall. This leads to the development of plaques which narrow the vessel lumen, particularly in the coronary and carotid arteries. Atherosclerotic plaques can become unstable and rupture, leading to myocardial infarction or stroke. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of vesicles secreted from cells with a wide range of biological functions. EVs participate in cell-cell communication and signalling via transport of cargo including enzymes, DNA, RNA and microRNA in both physiological and patholophysiological settings. EVs are present in atherosclerotic plaques and have been implicated in cellular signalling processes in atherosclerosis development, including immune responses, inflammation, cell proliferation and migration, cell death and vascular remodeling during progression of the disease. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge regarding EV signalling in atherosclerosis progression and the potential of utilising EV signatures as biomarkers of disease.
•Extracellular vesicles are secreted under physiological and pathological conditions.•They participate in cellular signalling via transfer of their cargo.•They may contribute to all stages of atherosclerotic lesion progression.•Circulating extracellular vesicles could serve as biomarkers.•Extracellular vesicles could be used as therapeutic tools.
Measurements of the isotopic composition of separate and
potentially interacting pools of soil water provide a powerful means to
precisely resolve plant water sources and quantify water residence ...time and
connectivity among soil water regions during recharge events. Here we
present an approach for quantifying the time-dependent isotopic mixing of
water recovered at separate suction pressures or tensions in soil over an
entire moisture release curve. We wetted oven-dried, homogenized sandy loam
soil first with isotopically “light” water (δ2H =-130 ‰; δ18O =-17.6 ‰) to represent antecedent moisture held at high matric tension. We then
brought the soil to near saturation with “heavy” water (δ2H =-44 ‰; δ18O =-7.8 ‰) that represented new input water. Soil water samples
were subsequently sequentially extracted at three tensions (“low-tension”
centrifugation ≈0.016 MPa; “mid-tension” centrifugation ≈1.14 MPa; and “high-tension” cryogenic vacuum distillation at an
estimated tension greater than 100 MPa) after variable
equilibration periods of 0 h, 8 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d. We assessed the differences
in the isotopic composition of extracted water over the 7 d equilibration
period with a MANOVA and a model quantifying the time-dependent isotopic mixing
of water towards equilibrium via self-diffusion. The simplified and
homogenous soil structure and nearly saturated moisture conditions used in
our experiment likely facilitated rapid isotope mixing and equilibration
among antecedent and new input water. Despite this, the isotope composition
of waters extracted at mid compared with high tension remained significantly
different for up to 1 d, and waters extracted at low compared with
high tension remained significantly different for longer than 3 d.
Complete mixing (assuming no fractionation) for the pool of water extracted
at high tension occurred after approximately 4.33 d. Our combination
approach involving the extraction of water over different domains of the
moisture release curve will be useful for assessing how soil texture and
other physical and chemical properties influence isotope exchange and mixing
times for studies aiming to properly characterize and interpret the isotopic
composition of extracted soil and plant waters, especially under variably
unsaturated conditions.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the mainstay of potentially curative surgical treatment for malignancies that have spread to ...peritoneal surfaces. This surgical procedure is however associated with high morbidity and appropriate patient selection and planning is therefore essential. Available multimodality imaging techniques include CT with oral and intravenous contrast, MRI including use of dedicated peritoneal protocol and FDG-PET/CT. These used with the correct technique, read by specialist radiologists and discussed under the auspices of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, can help to improve outcomes. We demonstrate that imaging not only provides information about peritoneal disease burden but more importantly want to shift the reader's focus to disease distribution. Our examples highlight how imaging helps avoid futile surgery by identifying patients with disease in unfavourable sites and show the strength and limitations of the various imaging modalities. We share how MR imaging can help identify multifocal and often occult sites including widespread miliary disease. Our examples provide a comprehensive overview demonstrating how imaging can help plan surgery by identifying patients who may need splenic vaccinations, counselling for stoma, egg harvesting and input from surgeons with other specialist expertise greatly increasing likelihood of achieving complete cytoreduction.Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the mainstay of potentially curative surgical treatment for malignancies that have spread to peritoneal surfaces. This surgical procedure is however associated with high morbidity and appropriate patient selection and planning is therefore essential. Available multimodality imaging techniques include CT with oral and intravenous contrast, MRI including use of dedicated peritoneal protocol and FDG-PET/CT. These used with the correct technique, read by specialist radiologists and discussed under the auspices of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, can help to improve outcomes. We demonstrate that imaging not only provides information about peritoneal disease burden but more importantly want to shift the reader's focus to disease distribution. Our examples highlight how imaging helps avoid futile surgery by identifying patients with disease in unfavourable sites and show the strength and limitations of the various imaging modalities. We share how MR imaging can help identify multifocal and often occult sites including widespread miliary disease. Our examples provide a comprehensive overview demonstrating how imaging can help plan surgery by identifying patients who may need splenic vaccinations, counselling for stoma, egg harvesting and input from surgeons with other specialist expertise greatly increasing likelihood of achieving complete cytoreduction.
Treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has evolved from chemotherapy (busulfan, hydroxyurea) to interferon-α (IFNα), and finally to tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib. Although ...imatinib has profoundly improved outcomes for patients with CML, it has limitations. Most significantly, imatinib cannot eradicate CML primitive progenitors, which likely accounts for the high relapse rate when imatinib is discontinued. IFNα, unlike imatinib, preferentially targets CML stem cells. Early studies with IFNα in CML demonstrated its ability to induce cytogenetic remission. Moreover, a small percentage of patients treated with IFNα were able to sustain durable remissions after discontinuing therapy and were probably cured. The mechanisms by which IFNα exerts its antitumor activity in CML are not well understood; however, activation of leukemia-specific immunity may have a role. Some clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination of imatinib and IFNα is superior to either therapy alone, perhaps because of their different mechanisms of action. Nonetheless, the side effects of IFNα often impede its administration, especially in combination therapy. Here, we review the role of IFNα in CML treatment and the recent developments that have renewed interest in this once standard therapy for patients with CML.
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