Poor Immune Reconstitution in HIV-Infected Patients Associates with High Percentage of Regulatory CD4+ T Cells

CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the maintenance of the immune system''s equilibrium, by dampening the activation of potential auto-reactive T cells and avoiding excessive immune activation. To correctly perform their function, Tregs must be maintained at the right proportion with respect to effector T cells. Since this equilibrium is frequently disrupted in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we hypothesize that its deregulation could hamper immune reconstitution in patients with poor CD4⁺ T cell recovery under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We analysed Tregs percentages amongst CD4⁺ T cells in 53 HIV-infected patients under HAART, with suppression of viral replication and distinct levels of immune reconstitution. As controls, 51 healthy individuals were also analysed. We observed that amongst the patients with Nadir values (the lowest CD4⁺ T cell counts achieved) <200 cells/µL, the individuals with high Tregs percentages (≥10% of total CD4⁺ T cells) had the worse CD4⁺ T cell reconstitution. In accordance, the well-described direct correlation between the Nadir value and CD4⁺ T cell reconstitution is clearly more evident in individuals with high Tregs proportions. Furthermore, we observed a strong negative correlation between Tregs percentages and CD4⁺ T cell recovery among immunological non-responder HIV⁺ individuals. All together, this work shows that high Tregs frequency is an important factor associated with sub-optimal CD4⁺ T cell recovery. This is particularly relevant for immunological non-responders with low Nadir values. Our results suggest that the Tregs proportion might be of clinical relevance to define cut-offs for HAART initiation.     

一株寒地高效解无机磷细菌的分离鉴定及拮抗作用

【目的】从北方寒地种植的不同农作物根际土壤中分离高效解磷的细菌,为微生物制剂和磷肥的开发提供适于本地区的优良菌种。【方法】通过初筛和复筛从26株解磷菌中筛选获得一株高效解磷细菌,对其进行生理生化和分子生物学鉴定,同时采用钼蓝比色法测定解磷能力。采用平板对峙法测定拮抗植物病原菌能力。【结果】通过筛选后获得的菌株B51-7经鉴定为伯克霍尔德菌属。菌株在发酵液中可溶性磷含量最高达到832.74 mg/L,同时具有很强的广谱抑菌作用,抑菌率最高为89.71%,可以显著促进水稻生长。【结论】菌株B51-7是一株具有生物防治作用的高效解磷细菌,可应用于生物菌肥和生防制剂中。     

BiC2PAM: constraint-guided biclustering for biological data analysis with domain knowledge

Background

Biclustering has been largely used in biological data analysis, enabling the discovery of putative functional modules from omic and network data. Despite the recognized importance of incorporating domain knowledge to guide biclustering and guarantee a focus on relevant and non-trivial biclusters, this possibility has not yet been comprehensively addressed. This results from the fact that the majority of existing algorithms are only able to deliver sub-optimal solutions with restrictive assumptions on the structure, coherency and quality of biclustering solutions, thus preventing the up-front satisfaction of knowledge-driven constraints. Interestingly, in recent years, a clearer understanding of the synergies between pattern mining and biclustering gave rise to a new class of algorithms, termed as pattern-based biclustering algorithms. These algorithms, able to efficiently discover flexible biclustering solutions with optimality guarantees, are thus positioned as good candidates for knowledge incorporation. In this context, this work aims to bridge the current lack of solid views on the use of background knowledge to guide (pattern-based) biclustering tasks.

Methods

This work extends (pattern-based) biclustering algorithms to guarantee the satisfiability of constraints derived from background knowledge and to effectively explore efficiency gains from their incorporation. In this context, we first show the relevance of constraints with succinct, (anti-)monotone and convertible properties for the analysis of expression data and biological networks. We further show how pattern-based biclustering algorithms can be adapted to effectively prune of the search space in the presence of such constraints, as well as be guided in the presence of biological annotations. Relying on these contributions, we propose BiClustering with Constraints using PAttern Mining (BiC2PAM), an extension of BicPAM and BicNET biclustering algorithms.

Results

Experimental results on biological data demonstrate the importance of incorporating knowledge within biclustering to foster efficiency and enable the discovery of non-trivial biclusters with heightened biological relevance.

Conclusions

This work provides the first comprehensive view and sound algorithm for biclustering biological data with constraints derived from user expectations, knowledge repositories and/or literature.

     

万博节皮菌致儿童面癣误诊1例

报道1例由万博节皮菌Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii导致的面癣。患者女,9岁,面部大片红斑肿胀脱屑伴瘙痒7个月,被误诊为"多型红斑",口服激素3周,停药后皮损面积迅速扩大,伴鳞屑瘙痒。2015年4月21日就诊于我科,真菌直接镜检阳性,培养和PCR结果为万博节皮菌。给予口服伊曲康唑胶囊2个月后痊愈。     

A Fully Verified Theoretical Analysis of Contact‐Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerators as a Wearable Power Source

Harvesting mechanical energy from human activities by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is an effective approach for sustainable, maintenance‐free, and green power source for wireless, portable, and wearable electronics. A theoretical model for contact‐mode triboelectric nanogenerators based on the principles of charge conservation and zero loop‐voltage is illustrated. Explicit expressions for the output current, voltage, and power are presented for the TENGs with an external load of resistance. Experimental verification is conducted by using a laboratory‐fabricated contact‐mode TENG made from conducting fabric electrodes and polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide composite as the dielectric layer. Excellent agreements of the output voltage, current, and power are demonstrated between the theoretical and experimental results, without any adjustable parameters. The effects of the moving speed on output voltage, current, and power are illustrated in three cases, that is, the motion with constant speed, the sinusoidal motion cycles, and the real walking cycles by human subject. The fully verified theoretical model is a very powerful tool to guide the design of the device structure and selection of materials, and optimization of performance with respect to the application conditions of TENGs.