Franciswhitfield7889

ty issues.This study aimed to assess the implication of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in GCA. Blood samples were obtained from 34 GCA patients (before and after 3 months of treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) alone) and compared with 20 controls aged >50 years. MAIT cells, defined by a CD3+CD4-TCRγδ-TCRVα7.2+CD161+ phenotype, were analyzed by flow cytometry. After sorting, we assessed the ability of MAIT cells to proliferate and produce cytokines after stimulation with anti CD3/CD28 microbeads or IL-12 and IL-18. MAIT were stained in temporal artery biopsies (TAB) by confocal microscopy. MAIT cells were found in the arterial wall of positive TABs but was absent in negative TAB. MAIT frequency among total αβ-T cells was similar in the blood of patients and controls (0.52 vs. 0.57%; P = 0.43) and not modified after GC treatment (P = 0.82). Expression of IFN-γ was increased in MAIT cells from GCA patients compared to controls (44.49 vs. 32.9%; P = 0.029), and not modified after 3 months of GC therapy (P = 0.82). When they were stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18, MAIT from GCA patients produced very high levels of IFN-γ and displayed a stronger proliferation compared with MAIT from controls (proliferation index 3.39 vs. 1.4; P = 0.032). In GCA, the functional characteristics of MAIT cells are modified toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype and a stronger proliferation capability in response to IL-12 and IL-18, suggesting that MAIT might play a role in GCA pathogenesis. Our results support the use of treatments targeting IL-12/IL-18 to inhibit the IFN-γ pathway in GCA.Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of malignant and heterogeneous tumor in premenopausal females with ineffective therapeutic targets. IL-8 is one of the earliest discovered chemotaxis cytokines which expression is closely related to the progress of various cancers. Previous studies show that IL-8 determines the prognosis of TNBC patients, nevertheless how IL-8 influence the progress of TNBC is unclear. In our studies, we discovered that overexpression of IL-8 promotes TNBC cells (TNBCs) migration and tumor growth via the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathway. Cell-cycle of TNBCs arrest at S phase by overexpression of IL-8, however, there is no significant difference on the cell viability and cell apoptosis of TNBCs. Besides, overexpression of IL-8 result in the downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of Cyclin B1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-8 plays a crucial role in the progress of TNBC, and it could be a novel therapeutic target of TNBC.The relevance of the environmental hazard evaluation of virgin plastics particles is problematic, as plastics almost never occur in a virgin state after being discarded into the environment. However, the producers or importers must evaluate the environmental effect of their products as they are produced. Many plastic types e.g., polyamide, polyethylene are already under pre-registration, according to the database of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in order to restrict the placing on the market of polymers (as defined by Article 3(5) of EU's REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization & Restriction of Chemicals), as a substance or in a mixture (ECHA, 2019). However, the hazard of microplastics could not be evaluated without relevant data on its (eco)toxic effects. In this work, the long-term toxicity of virgin polyamide microplastic (PA-MP) (size from 0 to 180 μm) and UV-weathered virgin PA-MP was investigated in the controlled life cycle experiments conducted in accordance with the OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals using Chironomus riparius (OECD test 218). In addition, a three-generation test was conducted to understand the trans-generational toxicity potential of virgin PA-MP. After UV irradiation (26 d) the buoyancy and color of the particles was changed and the share of smaller particles (of a few micrometer size range) increased. The exposure of C. riparius larvae to UV-weathered PA-MP (1000 mg kg-1) during their life cycle (28 d), negatively affected their development and subsequent emergence as adults. However, the exposure to virgin PA-MP throughout the life cycle and also over three consecutive generations did not significantly reduced the number of emerged adults. From the point of view of environmental hazard, the virgin polyamide plastics have probably no long-term hazard to chironomids. While it may not be relevant as environmental pollutant in the strict sense, UV-weathering may turn it hazardous.The Yellow River is the second largest river in China. Carbon transport by the Yellow River has significant influence on riverine carbon cycles in Asia. During the wet season, the riverine carbon was mainly found in dissolved form, i.e., dissolved organic carbon (DOC), along the entire course of the river. The distinct spatial variations of DOC concentration were observed at different reaches of the mainstream (p less then 0.01), while the highest mean DOC concentration was generally observed at midstream (4.13 ± 0.91 mg/L). Carbon stable isotope analysis δ13C and C N ratio of DOC, evidenced the sources of DOC in headwater and upstream were primarily the terrestrial plants (94% and 61%), but it was changed to soil organic matter (SOM) in mid- and downstream (36% and 37%), and the contribution of sewage to DOC were also increased to 17% and 18%. In the whole mainstream of the Yellow River, water temperature (WT) had a significant impact on DOC concentration, and it could explain 67% of the DOC variance. However, in a large catchment, the driving mechanisms on the DOC variations in headwaters will not necessarily be those controlling DOC trends in downstream. The study firstly quantified, in headwater and upstream, the natural factors explained as much as 65% and 73% of the DOC variations, respectively. In mid- and downstream areas, DOC was significantly influenced by the amount of wastewater discharged by the industry and the use of chemical fertilizers (p less then 0.05). Crenigacestat in vivo These findings may facilitate a better assessment of global riverine carbon cycling and may help to reveal the importance of the balance between development and environmental sustainability with the changing DOC transport features in the Yellow River due to human disturbances.