Host-pathogen interactions in the Plasmodium-infected mouse liver at spatial and single-cell resolution.

Upon infecting its vertebrate host, the malaria parasite initially invades the liver where it undergoes massive replication, whilst remaining clinically silent. The coordination of host responses across the complex liver tissue during malaria infection remains unexplored. Here, we perform spatial transcriptomics in combination with single-nuclei RNA sequencing over multiple time points to delineate host-pathogen interactions across Plasmodium berghei-infected liver tissues.

Macrophages marc(o) the difference in liver inflammation?

Miyamoto et al. report that Marco expression demarcates a population of IL-10-expressing immunosuppressive Kupffer cells (KCs) that are preferentially peri-portally located in the mouse liver, and which limit bacterial dissemination and liver inflammation.

Spatial proteogenomics reveals distinct and evolutionarily conserved hepatic macrophage niches.

The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, yet it remains incompletely characterized. Here we present a spatial proteogenomic atlas of the healthy and obese human and murine liver combining single-cell CITE-seq, single-nuclei sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and spatial proteomics. By integrating these multi-omic datasets, we provide validated strategies to reliably discriminate and localize all hepatic cells, including a population of lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) at the bile ducts.

Hepatic Macrophage Responses in Inflammation, a Function of Plasticity, Heterogeneity or Both?

With the increasing availability and accessibility of single cell technologies, much attention has been given to delineating the specific populations of cells present in any given tissue. In recent years, hepatic macrophage heterogeneity has also begun to be examined using these strategies. While previously any macrophage in the liver was considered to be a Kupffer cell (KC), several studies have recently revealed the presence of distinct subsets of hepatic macrophages, including those distinct from KCs both under homeostatic and non-homeostatic conditions.

Germ-Free Mice Exhibit Mast Cells With Impaired Functionality and Gut Homing and Do Not Develop Food Allergy.

Mucosal mast cells (MC) are key players in IgE-mediated food allergy (FA). The evidence on the interaction between gut microbiota, MC and susceptibility to FA is contradictory. We tested the hypothesis that commensal bacteria are essential for MC migration to the gut and their maturation impacting the susceptibility to FA.

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite-extract acts as a potent immunomodulator against allergic sensitization and airway inflammation.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown an inverse relationship between infections with certain parasites and a reduced incidence of allergic diseases. We and others have shown that infection with Toxoplasma gondii prevents the development of allergy in mice. To establish whether this beneficial effect could be recapitulated by soluble products of this parasite, we tested an extract derived from T.

Detection of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women: the significance of integrated stress imaging tests in a 4-year prognostic study.

Background: The present prospective study investigated whether a combined approach integrating two different stress imaging modalities may improve the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic impact of non-invasive coronary artery disease (CAD) tests in postmenopausal women. In women non-invasive tests for detecting CAD are less accurate than in men, leading to a high proportion of unnecessary coronary angiographies (CAs).

Methods: 424 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean 61 ± 7 years, mean Reynolds Risk Score 13 ± 3 %) with symptoms suggestive of CAD were prospectively included and followed up for 4 ± 1 years.

Glutathione-S-transferase: a minor allergen in birch pollen due to limited release from hydrated pollen.

Background: Recently, a protein homologous to glutathione-S-transferases (GST) was detected in prominent amounts in birch pollen by proteomic profiling. As members of the GST family are relevant allergens in mites, cockroach and fungi we investigated the allergenic relevance of GST from birch (bGST).

Methodology: bGST was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and characterized by mass spectrometry.

Myocardial deformation imaging by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for prediction of global and segmental functional changes after acute myocardial infarction: a comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Myocardial deformation analysis by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has been shown to accurately predict viability in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate two-dimensional STE for the prediction of global and segmental LV functional changes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: In 93 patients (mean age, 60 ± 11 years) with first AMIs (55 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions and 38 with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions) treated with acute percutaneous coronary intervention, global peak longitudinal strain was determined to describe global function by STE, and peak systolic circumferential and longitudinal strain was determined for segmental function analysis.

Layer-specific analysis of myocardial deformation for assessment of infarct transmurality: comparison of strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance with 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Aims: Separate analysis of endocardial and epicardial myocardial layer deformation has become possible using strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance (SENC) and 2D-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (Echo). This study evaluated and compared both modalities for the assessment of infarct transmurality as defined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods And Results: In 29 patients (age 62.

Quantitative analysis of endocardial and epicardial left ventricular myocardial deformation-comparison of strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background: Quantitative analysis of segmental myocardial deformation of different myocardial layers has become possible using strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (SENC) and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). We evaluated and compared the quantitative analysis of myocardial deformation using SENC and STE.

Methods: In 44 patients (age 61 ± 13 years, 34 men), SENC by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using a 1.

Dependency of cardiac resynchronization therapy on myocardial viability at the LV lead position.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) related to the viability in the segment of left ventricular (LV) lead position defined by myocardial deformation imaging.

Background: Echocardiographic myocardial deformation analysis allows determination of LV lead position as well as extent of myocardial viability.

Methods: Myocardial deformation imaging based on tracking of acoustic markers within 2-dimensional echo images (GE Ultrasound, GE Healthcare, Horton, Norway) was performed in 65 heart failure patients (54 ± 6 years of age, 41 men) before and 12 months after CRT implantation.