The tumor microenvironment of VETC+ hepatocellular carcinoma is enriched of immunosuppressive TAMs spatially close to endothelial cells.

Background And Aim: VETC (vessel that encapsulate tumor cluster) is a peculiar vascular phenotype observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), associated with distant metastases and poor outcome. VETC has been linked to the Tie2/Ang2 axis and is characterized by lymphocytes poor (cold) tumor microenvironment (TME). In this setting the role of Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) has never been explored.

Cholinergic Stimulation Exerts Cardioprotective Effects and Alleviates Renal Inflammatory Responses after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHRs).

Background: In this investigation, we explored the effects of pharmacological cholinergic stimulation on cardiac function and renal inflammation following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Methods: Adult male SHRs were randomized into three experimental groups: sham-operated; AMI + Veh (infarcted, treated with vehicle); and AMI + PY (infarcted, treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine bromide (PY)-40 mg/kg, once daily for seven days). Rats were euthanized 7 or 30 days post-surgery.

Immunometabolic interference between cancer and COVID-19.

Even though cancer patients are generally considered more susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the mechanisms driving their predisposition to severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not yet been deciphered. Since metabolic disorders are associated with homeostatic frailty, which increases the risk of infection and cancer, we asked whether we could identify immunometabolic pathways intersecting with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thanks to a combined flow cytometry and multiomics approach, here we show that the immunometabolic traits of COVID-19 cancer patients encompass alterations in the frequency and activation status of circulating myeloid and lymphoid subsets, and that these changes are associated with i) depletion of tryptophan and its related neuromediator tryptamine, ii) accumulation of immunosuppressive tryptophan metabolites (i.

Immunosenescence, Inflammaging, and Frailty: Role of Myeloid Cells in Age-Related Diseases.

The immune system is the central regulator of tissue homeostasis, ensuring tissue regeneration and protection against both pathogens and the neoformation of cancer cells. Its proper functioning requires homeostatic properties, which are maintained by an adequate balance of myeloid and lymphoid responses. Aging progressively undermines this ability and compromises the correct activation of immune responses, as well as the resolution of the inflammatory response.

How a discerning cytological examination can aid in the diagnosis of infectious diseases: case reports.

Infections caused by uncommon and resistant pathogens in unusual sites have been increasingly reported in medical literature. We describe four cases of rare cytological findings and clinical impact for patients. In the first case, Aspergillus sp and Pneumocystis jirovecii were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage of a patient with severe systemic lupus.

Lipid Metabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy: Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells at the Crossroad.

Cancer progression generates a chronic inflammatory state that dramatically influences hematopoiesis, originating different subsets of immune cells that can exert pro- or anti-tumor roles. Commitment towards one of these opposing phenotypes is driven by inflammatory and metabolic stimuli derived from the tumor-microenvironment (TME). Current immunotherapy protocols are based on the reprogramming of both specific and innate immune responses, in order to boost the intrinsic anti-tumoral activity of both compartments.

Evaluation of haptic devices and end-users: Novel performance metrics in tele-robotic microsurgery.

Background: Here, we present performance evaluation methodology that distinguishes the performance of a haptic device from end-user skill level in a tele-robotic system.

Methods: A pick-&-place experiment was designed and eight participants micromanipulated cotton strips, similar to maneuvers performed during microsurgery. Using three nonredundant haptic devices: neuroArmPLUS , a custom developed master manipulator, and two commercially available products, sigma.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis with pericardial effusion in Down syndrome: Case report.

Pericardial effusion associated with transient abnormal myelopoiesis in Down's syndrome neonates needs to be diagnosed in a timely manner, and the comorbidities must be treated to prevent mortality. To our knowledge, the occurrence of basophilic/eosinophilic pericardial effusion without an increase of these cells in the peripheral blood and with no evidence of associated hypothyroidism is rare.

Macrophage subsets exhibit distinct E. coli-LPS tolerisable cytokines associated with the negative regulators, IRAK-M and Tollip.

Macrophages (Mϕs) play a central role in mucosal immunity by pathogen sensing and instruction of adaptive immune responses. Prior challenge to endotoxin can render Mφs refractory to secondary exposure, suppressing the inflammatory response. Previous studies demonstrated a differential subset-specific sensitivity to endotoxin tolerance (ET), mediated by LPS from the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG).

Vascular Response During Mental Stress in Sedentary and Physically Active Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives: To compare vascular function of sedentary (SED) versus physically active (ACTIVE) patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during rest and mental stress.

Methods: Patients with untreated OSA without other comorbidities were classified into SED and ACTIVE groups according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), forearm blood flow (FBF) (plethysmography), and forearm vascular conductance (FVC = FBF / mean BP × 100) were continuously measured at rest (4 minutes) followed by 3 minutes of mental stress (Stroop Color Word Test).

Large changes in NAD levels associated with CD38 expression during HL-60 cell differentiation.

NAD is an important cofactor involved in multiple metabolic reactions and as a substrate for several NAD-dependent signalling enzymes. One such enzyme is CD38 which, alongside synthesising Ca(2+)-releasing second messengers and acting as a cell surface receptor, has also been suggested to play a key role in NAD(+) homeostasis. CD38 is well known as a negative prognostic marker in B-CLL but the role of its enzymatic activity has not been studied in depth to date.

Digitalis-like biological activity in rat cerebellum.

The cytosolic fraction of rat cerebellum possesses a factor(s) which is capable of inhibiting synaptosomal Na,K-ATPase activity, competing with [3H]ouabain binding to rat brain synaptosomes, and inducing positive inotropy in guinea pig atrial strips. These results demonstrate the existence of a ouabain-like principle in rat cerebella. The inhibitory activity of the factor was found to be partially thermolabile and diminished by a proteolytic agent, and the activity could be augmented by increasing concentrations of Mg2+, suggesting a regulatory mechanism for the endogenous digitalis-like principle.