Tissue‐resident MAIT cell populations in human oral mucosa exhibit an activated profile and produce IL‐17

Mucosa‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unconventional T lymphocytes defined by their innate‐like characteristics and broad antimicrobial responsiveness. Whether MAIT cells are part of the tissue‐resident defense in the oral mucosal barrier is unknown. Here, we found MAIT cells present in the buccal mucosa, with a tendency to cluster near the basement membrane, and located in both epithelium and the underlying connective tissue. Overall MAIT cell levels were similar in the mucosa compared to peripheral blood, in contrast to conventional T cells that showed an altered representation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ subsets. The major mucosal MAIT cell subset displayed a tissue‐resident and activated profile with high expression of CD69, CD103, HLA‐DR, and PD‐1, as well as a skewed subset distribution with higher representation of CD4^–/CD8^– double‐negative cells and CD8αα⁺ cells. Interestingly, tissue‐resident MAIT cells had a specialized polyfunctional response profile with higher IL‐17 levels, as assessed by polyclonal stimulus and compared to tissue nonresident and circulating populations. Furthermore, resident buccal MAIT cells were low in perforin. Together, these data indicate that MAIT cells form a part of the oral mucosal T cell compartment, where they exhibit a tissue‐resident‐activated profile biased toward IL‐17 production.     

mir-126 rs4636297 and TGFβRI rs334348 functional gene variants are associated with susceptibility to endometriosis and its severity

microRNAs (miRNAs) are negative regulators in a variety of cellular processes that occur in endometriosis. Therefore, functional polymorphisms in miRNA and miRNA binding sites may affect gene expression and contribute to susceptibility of endometriosis. In this study, we evaluated the association of two miRNA related polymorphisms, mir-126 rs4636297 and TGFβRI rs334348, with endometriosis risk and its severity. This case-control study was done on 157 endometriosis patients and 252 healthy women as a control group. Tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-ARMS PCR) was designed to determine the polymorphisms. Our finding showed significant differences in genotype frequency of mir-126 rs4636297 between the groups (χ²?=?6.26, p?=?0.044). A significant protection against endometriosis was found for mir-126 rs4636297 in allele (G versus A allele: OR?=?0.695, 95% CI?=?0.519–0.931, p?=?0.015) and genotype (GG versus AA genotype: OR?=?0.451, 95%CI?=?0.233–0.873, p?=?0.018). Significant association was also observed between the A allele and severity of endometriosis (OR?=?0.478, 95%CI?=?0.297–0.768, p?=?0.002). Moreover, we found a significant association between AA genotype with the risk of endometriosis (OR?=?0.493, 95%CI?=?0.250–0.970, p?=?0.041) and its severity (OR?=?0.240, 95%CI?=?0.065–0.883, p?=?0.032) regarding TGFβRI rs334348 polymorphism. These finding suggest that, for the first time, mir-126 rs4636297 and TGFβRI rs334348 polymorphisms may influence individual’s susceptibility to endometriosis and its severity.     

Comparing Recurrence and Complications After Laparoscopy and Laparotomy Surgery among Patients Suffering from Colorectal Cancer,Shiraz, Iran

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the rate of recurrence and occurrence of complications in colorectal cancer patients after two kinds of laparoscopy and laparotomy. Materials and Methods: A followup study was carried out among 358 patients who suffered from colorectal cancer from 20122014. The data were gathered from colorectal research center in Shiraz, Shahid Faghihi hospital, and analyzed using the chisquare test, logistic regression, and multinomial regression. Results: The average age of these patients was 56.314.6, 55.0% being men. Moreover, 57.8% of them underwent laparoscopy surgery and 42.2% of the patients underwent laparotomysurgery and the conversion rate was 58.0% which ultimately was put under the category of laparotomy surgery. After biennial median followup, differences in the occurrence of complications such as bleeding (hemorrhage), fever, intestine blockage and wound infection in these two kinds of surgery werestatistically significant (P<0.05). However, the rate of recurrence and the patients ultimate status (alive without disease, alive with disease, and death) did not significantly differ between these two surgery groups. Conclusions: Post operation complications were laparoscopy surgery were less than those in laparotomy. However, the outcomes such as patients' ultimate status and recurrence were similar between the two groups.     

An extended multisensory temporal binding window in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) form a continuum of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by deficits in communication and reciprocal social interaction, as well as by repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Sensory disturbances are also frequently reported in clinical and autobiographical accounts. However, surprisingly few empirical studies have characterized the fundamental features of sensory and multisensory processing in ASD. The current study is structured to test for potential differences in multisensory temporal function in ASD by making use of a temporally dependent, low-level multisensory illusion. In this illusion, the presentation of a single flash of light accompanied by multiple sounds often results in the illusory perception of multiple flashes. By systematically varying the temporal structure of the audiovisual stimuli, a “temporal window” within which these stimuli are likely to be bound into a single perceptual entity can be defined. The results of this study revealed that children with ASD report the flash-beep illusion over an extended range of stimulus onset asynchronies relative to children with typical development, suggesting that children with ASD have altered multisensory temporal function. These findings provide valuable new insights into our understanding of sensory processing in ASD and may hold promise for the development of more sensitive diagnostic measures and improved remediation strategies.     

Risk factors for prolonged hospitalization after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery

Objective

To determine perioperative risk factors for prolonged hospitalization after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

Methods

Data on patients who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgery at a single academic institution from January 2000 to January 2009 were evaluated. Patient demographics, clinical history, intraoperative data, and postoperative adverse events were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors of prolonged hospitalization (hospital stay > 48 h after surgery). A risk score was created from the analysis to predict prolonged hospitalization.

Results

Eight hundred seven patients were included. The median body mass index was 26.5 kg/m² (range, 14.2-72.3 kg/m²), and the median age was 49 years (range, 12-88 years). Four hundred fifty-nine patients (56.9%) underwent surgery for benign conditions, and 348 (43.1%) underwent surgery for malignant disease. A total of 78 patients (9.7%) had a prolonged hospitalization. Independent predictors of prolonged hospitalization were age > 54 years (P < 0.0001), operative blood loss > 120 mL (P < 0.0001), intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion (P = 0.0237), and early postoperative complication (P < 0.0001). Having a prior laparoscopy was associated with a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.0276). The risk score showed how changes in perioperative factors change the risk of prolonged hospitalization.

Conclusion

Factors such as age, blood loss, perioperative blood transfusion, and postoperative complications are associated with prolonged length of stay after laparoscopic surgery, while having a prior laparoscopy is associated with a shorter hospital stay. A clinical scoring system can be used to estimate probability of prolonged hospitalization after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.     

Non-utilization of the Pap Test Among Women with Frequent Health System Contact

Despite improvements in health access, many underserved women abstain from cervical cancer screening. A self-administered questionnaire was used to identify factors determining whether medically underserved women attending a safety net health system regularly are screened for cervical cancer. Approximately 11 % of study subjects had never received a Pap test despite an average of nearly four clinic visits in the preceding 12 months. Never screeners were significantly younger, more likely to be Hispanic, non-U.S. born and less likely to have healthcare continuity. In multivariable analysis, odds for never screening were independently lower among women with male partner support (aOR 0.29) and physician’s recommendation for screening (aOR 0.34) and higher among women who believed screening visits are too long (aOR 2.53). Educating male partners of Hispanic and immigrant women in addition to addressing recognized situational barriers may help to improve cervical cancer screening rates.