Double-Negative T-Cells during Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infections and Following Early Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation.

HIV infection significantly affects the frequencies and functions of immunoregulatory CD3CD4CD8 double-negative (DN) T-cells, while the effect of early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation on these cells remains understudied. DN T-cell subsets were analyzed prospectively in 10 HIV+ individuals during acute infection and following early ART initiation compared to 20 HIV-uninfected controls. In this study, 21 Rhesus macaques (RMs) were SIV-infected, of which 13 were assessed during acute infection and 8 following ART initiation four days post-infection.

Time-varying changes in median nerve deformation and position in response to quantified pinch and grip forces.

The ability of the median nerve (MN) to adapt in response to altered carpal tunnel conditions is important to mitigate compressive stress on the nerve. We assessed changes in MN deformation and position throughout the entire time course of hand force exertions. Fourteen right-handed participants ramped up force from 0% to 50% of maximal voluntary force (MVF) before ramping force back down in three different hand force exertion tasks (pulp pinch, chuck pinch, power grip).

Lipid metabolic reprogramming of hepatic CD4 T cells during SIV infection.

While liver inflammation is associated with AIDS, little is known so far about hepatic CD4 T cells. By using the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaque (RM) model, we aimed to characterize CD4 T cells. The phenotype of CD4 T cells was assessed by flow cytometry from uninfected ( = 3) and infected RMs, with either SIVmac251 ( = 6) or SHIVSF162p3 ( = 6).

[Infectious disease: what's new in 2022].

While recent epidemics have generated particular interest in viral infections, it should be noted that diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic innovations concerning other pathogens are not lacking. New vaccines (malaria, shingles) but new viruses (Lengya, child hepatitis), new therapeutic options against disabling parasitic diseases and bacteria becoming more and more resistant, including tuberculosis, shortening of treatment durations (tuberculosis, endocarditis), new diagnostic tests (borreliosis) are, among others, some notable recent innovations.

[High-output heart failure].

High output heart failure (HOHF) is a particular type of heart failure with multiple etiologies but a similar underlying mechanism, namely a decrease in systemic vascular resistance, in some instances associated with increased metabolic requirements. This leads to neurohormonal activation, fluid and sodium retention and a chronic hyperdynamic state resulting in a classic congestive state associated with clinical signs of high output. While no clear definition of HOHF exists, such findings and an increase in cardiac output (cardiac index >4 L/min/m2) strongly suggest the diagnosis.

Impact of Early ARV Initiation on Relative Proportions of Effector and Regulatory CD8 T Cell in Mesenteric Lymph Nodes and Peripheral Blood During Acute SIV Infection of Rhesus Macaques.

CD8 T cells are key players in the clearance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells, such that CD8 T-cell dysfunction contributes to viral persistence despite antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) are major sites of gut mucosal immunity. While different CD8 T cell subsets such as CD8 alpha-alpha (CD8αα), CD8 alpha-beta (CD8αβ), CD8 regulatory T cells (Treg), and mucosa-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) are present in the gut and exhibit distinct functions, their dynamics remain poorly understood due to the lack of accessibility to these tissues in humans.

T cell apoptosis characterizes severe Covid-19 disease.

Severe SARS-CoV-2 infections are characterized by lymphopenia, but the mechanisms involved are still elusive. Based on our knowledge of HIV pathophysiology, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 infection-mediated lymphopenia could also be related to T cell apoptosis. By comparing intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU COVID-19 patients with age-matched healthy donors, we found a strong positive correlation between plasma levels of soluble FasL (sFasL) and T cell surface expression of Fas/CD95 with the propensity of T cells to die and CD4 T cell counts.

[COVID-19: Do not put the cart before the horse].

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the study of a multitude of drugs to alleviate the epidemic burden. Among them, only corticotherapy (dexamethasone) and more recently concomitant anti-inflammatory therapy with IL-6 antagonists have shown benefit on mortality and mechanic ventilation requirement in patients requiring oxygen support. The management of patients with COVID-19 relies mainly on established therapeutic principles : adequate oxygen therapy, protective mechanic ventilation, prophylactic anticoagulation and targeted antibiotic therapy in case of secondary infection.

Predictors of Asthma Control and Exacerbations: A Real-World Study.

Background: Achieving optimal asthma control and minimizing the risk of exacerbation are the main goals of asthma treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the predictors of poor asthma control and asthma exacerbations within a population of moderate to severe asthmatic patients treated in a tertiary-care center.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study assessing 738 patients enrolled in the Quebec registry in respiratory health (RESP) with a diagnosis of asthma confirmed by a respirologist and treated in a tertiary care center from April 2010 to March 2016.

Early Antiretroviral Therapy Prevents Viral Infection of Monocytes and Inflammation in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques.

Despite early antiretroviral therapy (ART), treatment interruption is associated with viral rebound, indicating early viral reservoir (VR) seeding and absence of full eradication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) that may persist in tissues. Herein, we address the contributing role of monocytes in maintaining VRs under ART, since these cells may represent a source of viral dissemination due to their ability to replenish mucosal tissues in response to injury. To this aim, monocytes with classical (CD14), intermediate (CD14 CD16), and nonclassical (CD16) phenotypes and CD4 T cells were sorted from the blood, spleen, and intestines of untreated and early-ART-treated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) before and after ART interruption.

Despite early antiretroviral therapy effector memory and follicular helper CD4 T cells are major reservoirs in visceral lymphoid tissues of SIV-infected macaques.

Whereas antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses viral replication, ART discontinuation results in viral rebound, indicating the presence of viral reservoirs (VRs) established within lymphoid tissues. Herein, by sorting CD4 T-cell subsets from the spleen, mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes (LNs) of SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques (RMs), we demonstrate that effector memory (TEM) and follicular helper (TFH) CD4 T cells harbor the highest frequency of viral DNA and RNA, as well of early R-U5 transcripts in ART-naïve RMs. Furthermore, our results highlight that these two CD4 T cells subsets harbor viral DNA and early R-U5 transcripts in the spleen and mesenteric LNs (but not in peripheral LN) of RMs treated with ART at day 4 post infection suggesting that these two anatomical sites are important for viral persistence.

Differential Dynamics of Regulatory T-Cell and Th17 Cell Balance in Mesenteric Lymph Nodes and Blood following Early Antiretroviral Initiation during Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Increased frequencies of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) are associated with gut lymphoid tissue fibrosis and dysfunction which, in turn, contribute to disease progression in chronic simian immunodeficiency virus/human immunodeficiency virus (SIV/HIV) infection. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), which drain the large and small intestine, are critical sites for the induction and maintenance of gut mucosal immunity. However, the dynamics of Tregs in MLNs are not well understood due to the lack of accessibility to these tissues in HIV-infected individuals.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Inflammatory Markers for Diagnosing Occupational Asthma.

Background: The assessment of airway responsiveness and inflammation is key to the investigation of occupational asthma (OA).

Objective: We sought to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracies of the blood and sputum eosinophil counts and the methacholine challenge for the diagnosis of OA.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study assessing 618 patients who underwent specific inhalation challenges (SICs) for symptoms suggestive of OA between 2000 and 2015.

Correction: Early Loss of Splenic Tfh Cells in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.

Early Loss of Splenic Tfh Cells in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques.

Follicular T helper cells (Tfh), a subset of CD4 T lymphocytes, provide crucial help to B cells in the production of antigen-specific antibodies. Although several studies have analyzed the dynamics of Tfh cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes (LNs) during Aids, none has yet addressed the impact of SIV infection on the dynamics of Tfh cells in the spleen, the primary organ of B cell activation. We show here a significant decrease in splenic Tfh cells in SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) during the acute phase of infection, which persists thereafter.

Mitochondrial Proteomics of Antimony and Miltefosine Resistant .

Antimony (SbIII) and miltefosine (MIL) are important drugs for the treatment of parasite infections. The mitochondrion is likely to play a central role in SbIII and MIL induced cell death in this parasite. Enriched mitochondrial samples from promastigotes selected step by step for resistance to SbIII and MIL were subjected to differential proteomic analysis.

Separation of basic proteins from Leishmania using a combination of Free flow electrophoresis (FFE) and 2D electrophoresis (2-DE) under basic conditions.

Basic proteins, an important class of proteins in intracellular organisms such as Leishmania, are usually underrepresented on 2D gels. This chapter describes a method combining basic proteins fractionation using Free flow electrophoresis in isoelectric focusing mode (IEF-FFE) followed by protein separation using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in basic conditions. The combination of these two techniques represents a great improvement for the visualization of Leishmania proteins with basic pI using 2D gels.

Exoproteome dynamics in Leishmania infantum.

Unlabelled: The exoproteome of Leishmania infantum is composed of parasite derived proteins present in the extracellular environment. Although the exoproteome might have a significant role in the precocious steps of infection little is known concerning its composition. We developed an approach enabling the in vitro recovery of the exoproteome from logarithmic and stationary L.

Analysis of membrane-enriched and high molecular weight proteins in Leishmania infantum promastigotes and axenic amastigotes.

Membrane and high molecular weight (HMW) proteins tend to be underrepresented in proteome analyses. Here, we optimized a protocol designed for the extraction and purification of membranes from the protozoan parasite Leishmania using a combination of serial centrifugation and free-flow zone electrophoresis (ZE-FFE). We also enriched for Leishmania HMW proteins from total extracts using the Gelfree 8100 fractionation system.

Proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of linezolid resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic that inhibits the initiation of translation. Although resistance to linezolid is an uncommon event, it has been reported in clinical isolates. The genome sequence of Streptococcus pneumoniae linezolid-resistant mutants recently revealed mutations associated with resistance.

Methods to Enhance Verbal Communication between Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Formal and Informal Caregivers: A Systematic Review.

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in older adults. Although memory problems are the most characteristic symptom of this disorder, many individuals also experience progressive problems with communication. This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of methods to improve the verbal communication of individuals with Alzheimer's disease with their caregivers.

Analysis of stage-specific expression of basic proteins in Leishmania infantum.

Prior analyses of the proteome of the protozoan parasite Leishmania have underrepresented basic proteins. Here, we applied protein fractionation by isoelectric point (pI) using free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) to study stage-specific expression of basic proteins in this pathogen. Overall, we resolved 2469 protein spots in both the flagellated promastigote and the nonmotile amastigote forms in the basic range by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE).

Standard microlithographic mosaics to assess endothelial cell counting methods by light microscopy in eye banks using organ culture.

Purpose: To develop standard microscopic hexagonal mosaics mimicking the human corneal endothelium for quality control of endothelial cell density (ECD) measurement and verification of cell counting strategy by light microscopy in eye banks using organ culture.

Methods: A standard slide, the Keratotest, was developed with 10 laser-engraved mosaics and different predetermined "cell" densities representing the range of ECDs observed routinely. Horizontal and vertical micrometric scales were etched adjacently to each mosaic, and a standard microscopy resolution test pattern was included.