Summary
B1 B cells represent a unique subset of B lymphocytes distinct from conventional B2 B cells, and are important in the production of natural antibodies. A potential human homologue of murine ...B1 cells was defined recently as a CD20+CD27+CD43+ cell. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a group of heterogeneous conditions linked by symptomatic primary antibody failure. In this preliminary report, we examined the potential clinical utility of introducing CD20+CD27+CD43+ B1 cell immunophenotyping as a routine assay in a diagnostic clinical laboratory. Using a whole blood assay, putative B1 B cells in healthy controls and in CVID patients were measured. Peripheral blood from 33 healthy donors and 16 CVID patients were stained with relevant monoclonal antibodies and underwent flow cytometric evaluation. We established a rapid, whole blood flow cytometric assay to investigate putative human B1 B cells. Examination of CD20+CD27+CD43+ cells is complicated by CD3+CD27+CD43hi T cell contamination, even when using stringent CD20 gating. These can be excluded by gating on CD27+CD43lo–int B cells. Although proportions of CD20+CD27–CD43lo–int cells within B cells in CVID patients were decreased by 50% compared to controls (P < 0·01), this was not significant when measured as a percentage of all CD27+ B cells (P = 0·78). Immunophenotypic overlap of this subset with other innate‐like B cells described recently in humans is limited. We have shown that putative B1 B cell immunophenotyping can be performed rapidly and reliably using whole blood. CD20+CD27+CD43lo–int cells may represent a distinct B1 cell subset within CD27+ B cells. CVID patients were not significantly different from healthy controls when existing CD27+ B cell deficiencies were taken into account.
Highlights • The extent and characteristics of influenza outbreaks in three primary schools have been described. • Routinely collected absentee data are used as a proxy for influenza activity. • ...Attack rates in these settings can be high, with the highest incidence in younger pupils. • A premature return to school may result in multiple absences. • Provides valuable baseline information for evaluation of the influenza vaccination programme.
Despite their crucial role in health and disease, our knowledge of immune cells within human tissues remains limited. We surveyed the immune compartment of 16 tissues from 12 adult donors by ...single-cell RNA sequencing and VDJ sequencing generating a dataset of ~360,000 cells. To systematically resolve immune cell heterogeneity across tissues, we developed CellTypist, a machine learning tool for rapid and precise cell type annotation. Using this approach, combined with detailed curation, we determined the tissue distribution of finely phenotyped immune cell types, revealing hitherto unappreciated tissue-specific features and clonal architecture of T and B cells. Our multitissue approach lays the foundation for identifying highly resolved immune cell types by leveraging a common reference dataset, tissue-integrated expression analysis, and antigen receptor sequencing.
Abstract
This work thoroughly investigates chemical solvent-particles interactions during the formation of composite particles by pulsed laser melting of α-Fe
2
O
3
. Two solvents, with different ...dielectric constants, such as ethyl acetate (ε
r
= 6) and ethanol (ε
r
= 24.6), were examined in terms of their effect on the morphology, size, and phase composition of iron oxide composites. We calculated the laser fluence curves using the heating-melting-evaporation approach to identify the critical particle size that undergoes the phase changes first. We assessed the temperature of the particles irradiated with 390 mJ/pulse
.
cm
2
in both solvents, including the heat dissipation between the particles and the liquid. The phase diagram of the Fe–O–C–H system was calculated to determine the temperature–pressure relationship of the system in equilibrium. We also employed an in situ GC–MS analysis to identify the volatile products during irradiation. Based on our experimental results, we concluded that the final diameter of the composites increases from 400 to 600 nm, along with the decreasing dielectric constant of the solvent, which is related to the different polarization of the organic liquid and the degree of particle agglomeration. The reduction of hematite in ethanol proceeded much faster, ending up with Fe/FeC
x
, while in ethyl acetate, it ended up with Fe
3
O
4
. Among all the particles, those with a diameter of 200 nm have the highest temperature and undergo the phase transition first. The temperature of a 200 nm composite particle in ethanol is slightly lower than in ethyl acetate, i.e. 1870 K as compared to 1902 K. Phase equilibrium diagrams proved the existence of Fe, FeO, and Fe
3
O
4
as the preferred phases at about 1900 K. Our research provides a new insight into the process of submicron particle formation during pulsed laser irradiation and allows proposing a mechanism for the growth of particles of different size and phase composition depending on the solvent.
The history of sorption and ion-exchange processes starts with the use of natural materials which properties were discovered coincidentally and ends with the age of polymer and anorganic—or synthetic ...sorbents specifically made for a particular project. Its objectives are focused on sorption of anthropogenic radionuclides originating from nuclear power plant operations (fission, activation, corrosion products and transuranium elements) on bentonites, zeolites, hydroxyapatites, magnetic sorbent, ferrocyanides, and silica sorbent. Bentonites from Slovak deposits should be used as part of multi-barrier system in deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste. Zeolites are used as molecular sieves, catalysts, ion-exchangers, sorbents, water softeners, in wastewater treatment, in chemistry industry, buildings. Hydroxyapatite is a suitable sorbent for heavy metals and radionuclides due to its low water solubility, high stability under reducing and oxidizing conditions, high specific surface area and good buffering properties. The leaching wastes from the Sereď hydrometallurgical plant represent a large stock of inexpensive, ready-to-use magnetic sorbent for the decontamination of soil or sediments in their common suspensions, followed by the magnetic separation and sorbent recycling. Insoluble ferrocyanides of nickel are highly selective sorbents for heavy alkali metals ions, and therefore can be used to separate cesium from liquid radioactve waste. Silica sorbents modified with imidazole can be used for the separation of cobalt ions from aqueous solution.
Loss of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase isoform-1 (ACSL1) in mouse skeletal muscle (Acsl1M−/−) severely reduces acyl-CoA synthetase activity and fatty acid oxidation. However, the effects of decreased ...fatty acid oxidation on skeletal muscle function, histology, use of alternative fuels, and mitochondrial function and morphology are unclear. We observed that Acsl1M−/− mice have impaired voluntary running capacity and muscle grip strength and that their gastrocnemius muscle contains myocytes with central nuclei, indicating muscle regeneration. We also found that plasma creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in Acsl1M−/− mice are 3.4- and 1.5-fold greater, respectively, than in control mice (Acsl1flox/flox), indicating muscle damage, even without exercise, in the Acsl1M−/− mice. Moreover, caspase-3 protein expression exclusively in Acsl1M−/− skeletal muscle and the presence of cleaved caspase-3 suggested myocyte apoptosis. Mitochondria in Acsl1M−/− skeletal muscle were swollen with abnormal cristae, and mitochondrial biogenesis was increased. Glucose uptake did not increase in Acsl1M−/− skeletal muscle, and pyruvate oxidation was similar in gastrocnemius homogenates from Acsl1M−/− and control mice. The rate of protein synthesis in Acsl1M−/− glycolytic muscle was 2.1-fold greater 30 min after exercise than in the controls, suggesting resynthesis of proteins catabolized for fuel during the exercise. At this time, mTOR complex 1 was activated, and autophagy was blocked. These results suggest that fatty acid oxidation is critical for normal skeletal muscle homeostasis during both rest and exercise. We conclude that ACSL1 deficiency produces an overall defect in muscle fuel metabolism that increases protein catabolism, resulting in exercise intolerance, muscle weakness, and myocyte apoptosis.
Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common cancers and cancer causes of death worldwide. CRC screening and early detection is essential to reduce CRC incidence and mortality. CRC ...screening has been initiated in the Czech Republic in 2000 for persons over 50 and currently offers a faecal occult blood test (FOBT) or screening colonoscopy (CS). The aim of our study was to present complete coverage by examinations in relation to the trends in CRC burden and impact of COVID-19.
Methods
We defined the complete coverage by examinations as the proportion of persons aged over 50 undergoing examination with CRC early detection potential (FOBT or CS for any indication) during past 3 years. Standardized incidence and mortality rates were used to assess epidemiological trends. The impact of COVID-19 was assessed for 2020 and 2021 by comparing the volume of examinations with 2019. We used national health registries (National Registry of Reimbursed Health Services, Czech National Cancer Registry) as the source of data.
Results
Complete coverage was increasing over time and reached around 50% in recent years (target population is more than 4 million persons, most of the performed examinations were screening FOBT). However, coverage has decreased to 47.9% in 2020. In 2020 and 2021, the number of tests performed decreased by 16.9% and 5.5%, respectively, compared to 2019. CRC incidence and mortality rates have decreased by more than 20% and almost 30%, respectively, in the last decade.
Conclusions
Complete coverage has reached a satisfactory level and has likely a positive impact on the epidemiological trends. However, further action is needed to increase coverage, recently affected by COVID-19 pandemic, when non-acute health care may have been neglected.
Key messages
* The long-term high level of coverage by examinations likely has a positive impact on CRC burden.
* The observed decrease in coverage caused by COVID-19 needs to be appropriately compensated.
Abstract
Issue
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been among the most important cancer causes of death globally. CRC screening and early detection can decrease CRC incidence and mortality through timely ...removal of colorectal neoplasia or early CRC treatment. CRC screening has been initiated in the Czech Republic in 2000 for individuals over 50, with GPs having a key role in recruiting individuals to screening, offering faecal occult blood test (FOBT). Screening colonoscopy (CS) was added for individuals over 55 since 2009.
Description of the problem
To increase uptake of CRC screening, personal invitation of non-attenders under 70 was implemented in 2014, along with temporary mass-media campaign. Health insurance companies have been sending invitations to those individuals without record of recent FOBT, CS or CRC treatment.
The aim of our study was to evaluate impact of this policy on complete coverage by examination over 2013-2018. We defined the complete coverage by examination as the proportion of individuals aged 50-69 undergoing examination with CRC early detection potential (FOBT or CS for any indication) during past 3 years. We used newly established National Registry of Reimbursed Health Services as the source of data.
Results
Complete coverage of the target population (2.7 million individuals aged 50-69) was 44.8 % in 2013. By 2016, the coverage increased to 54.6%. Therefore, almost 300,000 individuals were newly covered by the relevant examinations. By 2018, the coverage decreased to 51.2%. When we consider only screening FOBT examinations, the coverage was 36.9 % in 2013, 45.2% in 2016, and 42.0% in 2018.
Lessons
In the health system with accessible CS facilities, the policy of non-attenders' invitation for CRC screening resulted not only in increase in coverage by screening examinations; complete coverage also increased. Unfortunately, the positive effect has been fading out, and further actions to sustain high coverage are therefore warranted.
Key messages
Invitation of non-attenders to colorectal cancer screening increased complete coverage of the target population by examination. Initial increase was followed by a slow decrease in coverage by examination, underlying the need for other actions to increase participation.
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