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#scienceopen

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'Assessing technical and scale efficiencies in tilapia production: influential factors and insights' - an article in the @EDPSciences UN #SDGs #Research collection on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=7

ScienceOpenAssessing technical and scale efficiencies in tilapia production: influential factors and insights<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d4716334e75">This study assessed the technical and scale efficiency of tilapia farmers in Bangladesh with a focus on identifying key factors influencing their efficiency levels. Data from 199 randomly selected tilapia farmers were analyzed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), followed by a Tobit regression model to determine the key variables affecting efficiency. The results revealed a mean TE of 0.77 under CRS, 0.83 under VRS, and a mean SE of 0.92, indicating that most inefficiencies were technical rather than scale-related issues. The study also identified farming training, credit access, and years of experience had a positive effect on TE, while adverse climatic conditions negatively impacted efficiency. The findings emphasize the importance of mitigating climate impacts and improving resource management to enhance efficiency. Expanding credit access, improving training programs, and taking initiatives for mitigating climate impacts could significantly improve the efficiency and long-term viability of tilapia production in the region. </p>

'Regulatory and policy analysis of employment and health protections in Indonesia’s creative economy' - an article in the @EDPSciences UN #SDGs #Research collection on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=f

ScienceOpenRegulatory and policy analysis of employment and health protections in Indonesia’s creative economy<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d1238569e108">This research explores the growing role of the creative economy and the regulatory gaps that impact labor protection, specifically in the creative industry sector. The digital transformation of the creative sector has led to significant economic contributions but also challenges regarding labor protection, especially health security for workers. Despite advancements, such as the introduction of social health insurance in Vietnam, Indonesia faces regulatory shortcomings in providing adequate health protection for creative workers, many of whom are freelancers or contract workers. Using a normative legal research method, this study analyzes key legal frameworks, including laws related to manpower, social security, and creative economy regulations, to assess the extent to which existing policies address labor and health protection in the digital era. The research highlights critical gaps in health coverage for workers with less than six months of employment and suggests that expanding social security coverage, increasing legal literacy, and enacting targeted regulatory reforms are essential for creating a more inclusive and sustainable creative economy workforce. The study also draws lessons from Vietnam’s successful implementation of Social Health Insurance. By addressing these regulatory shortcomings, Indonesia can better ensure the welfare of creative workers and enhance their contributions to the national economy. </p>

'Growth and yield performance of drought-stressed soybean ( Glycine max L.) treated with neem-mediated silver nanoparticles' - an article in the @EDPSciences UN #SDGs #Research collection on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=b

ScienceOpenGrowth and yield performance of drought-stressed soybean ( <i>Glycine max</i> L.) treated with neem-mediated silver nanoparticles<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d9219553e162">The utilization of nanotechnology in agriculture has demonstrated significant potential, particularly in enhancing crop resilience to environmental stress. This study investigated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in seed treatment on soybean performance under drought conditions. The study used a factorial CRD with four replicates. The experimental factors included seed treatments (control, AgNP priming, and AgNP coating) and drought stress levels represented by the field water capacity (FWC) of 80%, 60%, and 40%. The results demonstrated that seed treatment with AgNPs significantly increased plant growth in AgNP coatings based on plant height but did not significantly increase all soybean yield variables. FWC of 40-60% showed severe and moderate stress effects on soybean, which significantly decreased the leaf number but increased the leaf green index. In conclusion, AgNP seed treatment had a limited effect on soybean production but could be a potential approach to enhance drought tolerance. </p>

'Effects of host switching and successive multigenerational rearing of the parasitoid Eretmocerus corni (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on host preference and adaptation' - a #Research article in 'CABI #Agriculture and #Bioscience' on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=a

ScienceOpenEffects of host switching and successive multigenerational rearing of the parasitoid <i>Eretmocerus corni</i> (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on host preference and adaptation<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="P000003">Background: The adaptive strategies of parasitoids against different hosts may evolve under successive multigenerational rearing in alternative hosts; therefore, it is crucial to validate the maintenance and optimization of parasitoid adaptations to target pests during mass rearing. <i>Eretmocerus corni</i> Haldeman (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is a biological control agent for managing whitefly pests. Here, we investigated the effects on preference and adaptation of adult <i>E. corni</i> transferred from its original host, <i>Trialeurodes vaporariorum</i> Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), to a new host, <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), through successive multigenerational rearing on <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs. Results: The results of the choice assays showed that for the first five generations, the parasitoids showed a clear preference for the original rearing host <i>T. vaporariorum</i> nymphs. However, after 15 generations of rearing on <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs, there was a preference for <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs compared to <i>T. vaporariorum</i> nymphs. No-choice assays showed that there was no significant increase in the number of <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs parasitized and total mortality in all generations, but the number of <i>T. vaporariorum</i> nymphs parasitized and total mortality were both significantly higher in the control than the10th and 15th generations. When <i>E. corni</i> parasitized <i>T. vaporariorum</i> nymphs, the developmental time of the 1st generation offspring was significantly shorter than that of other generations. Host feeding, offspring female ratio and emergence rate did not differ among generations or between host species. Conclusion: Our analyses showed that successive rearing of <i>E. corni</i> on an alternative host was able to enhance the preference for that host. However, despite this increase in preference, the developmental suitability did not change significantly among generations. This study provides fundamental information for understanding the parasitism performance of <i>E. corni</i> across different whitefly hosts over multiple generations. </p>

'No effect of transgenic St-Prrn-ACT potatoes on Arma chinensis, a natural enemy of the Colorado potato beetle' - a #Research article in 'CABI #Agriculture and #Bioscience' on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=2

ScienceOpenNo effect of transgenic <i>St</i>-Prrn-ACT potatoes on <i>Arma chinensis</i>, a natural enemy of the Colorado potato beetle<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="P000002">Potato stands as an important vegetable crop globally. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) emerges as a pervasive quarantine pest with a worldwide footprint, inflicting devastating consequences on potato crops. <i>Arma chinensis</i> (Fallou) is an important predator of several agricultural and forestry pests, including the CPB. Previous investigations have demonstrated the potent induction of RNAi responses in beetles through the transgenic manipulation of potato plants targeting the β-Actin (ACT) gene. By expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in potato plastids, specifically targeting the β-Actin (ACT) gene of the CPB, transplastomic potato plants can trigger the beetle’s RNA interference response to kill the CPB. Our study evaluates the effect of transgenic <i>St</i>-Prrn-ACT potatoes on <i>A. chinensis</i>. Furthermore, through the tertiary nutritional relationship test of the different potato varieties-CPB- <i>A. chinensis</i>, we aim to understand whether the transgenic <i>St</i>-Prrn-ACT potato can affect the <i>A. chinensis</i>. To discern this, wild-type <i>St</i>-wt and economically significant cultivar Holland 15 were judiciously chosen as controls for comparison against the transgenic <i>St</i>-Prrn-ACT. Comparison of survival curves, predation volume, mean weight, as well as the activities of detoxification enzymes and protective enzymes in the different potatoes was made for CPB and <i>A. chinensis</i>. The study revealed an absence of statistically significant variances in survival rates, detoxification enzyme activities, and protective enzyme activities among different specimens when pitted against the <i>A. chinensis</i>. The study also revealed no effect of transgenic <i>St</i>-Prrn-ACT potatoes on <i>A. chinensis</i>, following exposure through the CPB. </p>

'Epidemiological changes in Toxoplasma infection: a 7-year longitudinal study in pregnant women in Lyon, France, 2017–2023
Translated title: Évolution épidémiologique de l’infection à Toxoplasma : étude longitudinale sur 7 ans chez les femmes enceintes à Lyon (2017-2023)'

- an article in 'Parasite' by @EDPSciences on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=0

'Culturable bacteria and fungi in Ixodes, Dermacentor, Amblyomma and Ornithodoros ticks

Translated title: Bactéries et champignons cultivables chez les tiques Ixodes, Dermacentor, Amblyomma et Ornithodoros' - an article in 'Parasite' by @EDPSciences on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=2

ScienceOpenCulturable bacteria and fungi in <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Dermacentor</i>, <i>Amblyomma</i> and <i>Ornithodoros</i> ticks <span class="so-article-trans-title" dir="auto"> Translated title: Bactéries et champignons cultivables chez les tiques <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Dermacentor</i>, <i>Amblyomma</i> et <i>Ornithodoros</i> </span><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d19498493e208">Ticks are ectoparasites harboring complex microbial communities, typically dominated by nutritional symbionts that produce B vitamins and sometimes including pathogens affecting human and animal health. However, ticks also host a variety of commensal microbes whose diversity remains poorly documented. In this study, we isolated and identified culturable bacteria and fungi associated with various tick species from the genera <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Dermacentor</i>, <i>Amblyomma</i>, and <i>Ornithodoros</i>, collected from their natural habitats or hosts in France and French Guiana. A total of 111 bacterial and 27 fungal isolates were obtained which were then identified using both molecular and morphological approaches. Substantial fungal diversity was observed in a few ticks, whereas culturable bacteria displayed a broader distribution and diversity across tick species. Interestingly, the diversity of culturable bacteria and fungi revealed a microbiome structure that reflected the ecological niches of the tick host, indicating habitat-specific microbial associations and a potential ecological role in tick biology. The isolation of common gut bacteria of other arthropods, as well as the isolation of a viable entomopathogenic fungus, underscores the potential influence of these microbes on tick biology. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d19498493e223">Les tiques sont des ectoparasites abritant des communautés microbiennes complexes, généralement dominées par des symbiotes nutritionnels qui produisent des vitamines B et parfois incluant des pathogènes affectant la santé humaine et animale. Cependant, les tiques hébergent également une variété de microbes commensaux dont la diversité reste mal documentée. Dans cette étude, nous avons isolé et identifié des bactéries et champignons cultivables associés à diverses espèces de tiques des genres <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Dermacentor</i>, <i>Amblyomma</i> et <i>Ornithodoros</i>, collectées dans leurs habitats naturels ou hôtes en France et en Guyane française. Au total, 111 isolats bactériens et 27 isolats fongiques ont été obtenus, qui ont ensuite été identifiés à l’aide d’approches moléculaires et morphologiques. Une diversité fongique substantielle a été observée chez quelques tiques, tandis que les bactéries cultivables présentaient une distribution et une diversité plus larges parmi les espèces de tiques. Il est intéressant de noter que la diversité des bactéries et des champignons cultivables a révélé une structure du microbiome qui reflétait les niches écologiques de l’hôte tique, indiquant des associations microbiennes spécifiques à l’habitat et un rôle écologique potentiel dans la biologie des tiques. L’isolement de bactéries intestinales communes d’autres arthropodes, ainsi que l’isolement d’un champignon entomopathogène viable, soulignent l’influence potentielle de ces microbes sur la biologie des tiques. </p>

'Rotating-platform deep-dish total knee arthroplasty with restricted kinematic alignment: Five-year clinical and functional outcomes' - an article in SICOT-J by @EDPSciences on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=e

ScienceOpenRotating-platform deep-dish total knee arthroplasty with restricted kinematic alignment: Five-year clinical and functional outcomes<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d6221308e185"> <i>Introduction</i>: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) utilizing deep-dish tibial inserts has gained interest due to its high congruency and enhanced stability. However, due to the advent of more personalized alignment philosophies, the combination of a rotating-platform deep-dish TKA design with restricted kinematic alignment (rKA) might improve patient satisfaction. Therefore, this study evaluated the five-year clinical and functional outcomes of rKA with a deep-dish TKA design. <i>Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent primary TKA with a rotating-platform deep-dish design and rKA. Of 143 eligible patients, 123 completed five-year follow-up. Clinical and radiographic assessments included the five-year postoperative results: Knee Society Score (KSS), patient satisfaction, range of motion, coronal limb and implant alignment, postoperative complications and implant survivorship. Statistical analyses compared preoperative and postoperative outcomes with paired analyses. <i>Results</i>: Median KSS Knee and Function scores significantly improved from 70 (IQR 5) and 60 (IQR 26) preoperatively to 90 (IQR 20) and 93 (IQR 21) postoperatively ( <i>p</i> < 0.001). Postoperative coronal alignment in this study encompassed a hip-knee-ankle angle was 178.1° ± 3.5, a Lateral Distal Femoral Angle of 89.9° ± 2.6, and a Medial Proximal Tibial Angle of 88.6° ± 2.2. At five years, 94% of patients were either satisfied or very satisfied. The revision-free survival rate was 98%. Periprosthetic joint infection and arthrofibrosis were the most common complications (1.6% for both groups separately), followed by aseptic loosening of a cementless femoral component (0.8%) and patellar dislocation (0.8%). <i>Discussion</i>: Rotating-platform deep-dish TKA with restricted kinematic alignment results in excellent functional outcomes, high patient satisfaction, and low complication rates at five-year follow-up. These findings support its viability as a surgical strategy, though long-term studies are warranted to assess implant durability and survivorship beyond 10 years. </p>

'The impact of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience: Effects and its mechanism' - a #Research article in the Journal of Southern Agriculture on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/document?vid=c

ScienceOpenThe impact of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience: Effects and its mechanism<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d11507622e119"> <b>[Objective]</b> To examine the impact of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience and its mechanisms, and to determine whether there was heterogeneity in the effect of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience across different regions, which could provide decision-making references for advancing rural revitalization and enhancing farmers’ livelihood resilience. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d11507622e124"> <b>[Method]</b> Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Xizang) from 2011 to 2021, this study measured farmers’ livelihood resilience from 5 aspects: exposure, sensitivity, buffering capacity, learning capacity and self-organization capacity. Fixed effects model, system GMM model, mediation effect model and threshold effect model were used to test the impact of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience and its mechanisms. The study also explored the mediating roles of labor transfer, industrial upgrading, and agricultural scale operations in rural infrastructure investment and farmers’livelihood resilience. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d11507622e129"> <b>[Results]</b> (1) Rural infrastructure investment in the eastern, central, and western regions of China extremely significantly enhanced farmers’ livelihood resilience ( <i>P</i><0.01, the same below), with the impact coefficient following the pattern: western region > central region > eastern region, and this effect has strengthened with the implementation of related policies. (2) In terms of the mechanisms, rural infrastructure investment promoted farmers’ livelihood resilience by apgrading labor transfer, agricultural scale operations and industrial structure, with labor transfer being the key pathway. (3) The regional heterogeneity analysis revealed that the effect of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience was greater in the western and central regions compared to the eastern region, indicating great regional differences in the impact of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience. (4) As labor transfer, agricultural scale operations and industrial structure upgraded, the promotion effect of rural infrastructure investment on farmers’ livelihood resilience exhibited a nonlinear change. Among these, improving labor transfer and agricultural scale operations brought significant benefits as complementary measures. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d11507622e137"> <b>[Suggestion]</b> To improve farmers’ livelihood resilience, the following 4 measures should be implemented: (1) increase investment in rural infrastructure and improve supporting policies; (2) implement differentiated investment strategies based on local conditions; (3) strengthen employment security and improve the quality of labor transfer; (4) transform agricultural production methods to promote agricultural scale development and industrial upgrading. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d11507622e143"> <b>摘要: 【目的】</b> 检验农村基础设施投入对农民生计韧性的影响及其作用机制, 明确不同地区农村基础设施投入对 农民生计韧性的影响是否存在异质性, 为推进乡村全面振兴及提升农民生计韧性提供决策参考。 <b>【方法】</b>基于2011— 2021年我国30个省份 (不含港澳台及西藏) 的平衡面板数据, 从暴露性、敏感性、缓冲能力、学习能力和自组织能力5个 方面对农民生计韧性进行测度, 采用固定效应模型、系统GMM模型、中介效应模型和门槛效应模型, 检验农村基础设 施投入对农民生计韧性的影响及其作用机制, 揭示劳动力转移、产业结构升级和农业规模化经营在农村基础设施投 入与农民生计韧性间的中介作用。 <b>【建议】</b> (1) 我国东部、中部和西部地区的农村基础设施投入均能极显著促进农民生 计韧性 ( <i>P</i><0.01, 下同), 影响系数呈西部>中部>东部的格局, 且随相关政策的实施而提升; (2) 从作用机制分析来看, 农村基础设施投入可通过提升劳动力转移、农业规模化经营和产业结构升级, 而促进农民生计韧性, 尤其劳动力转移 是关键路径; (3) 从区域异质性分析来看, 农村基础设施投入对西部地区和中部地区农民生计韧性的作用效应高于东 部地区, 说明农村基础设施投入对我国不同地区农民生计韧性的影响存在明显差异; (4) 随着劳动力转移、农业规模 化经营和产业结构升级, 农村基础设施投入对农民生计韧性的推动作用呈非线性变化。其中, 改善劳动力转移和农 业规模化经营水平是带来显著收益的辅助性手段。 <b>【结果】</b>深入认识农村基础设施投入对农民生计韧性的影响, 并从 以下4个方面着手提升农民生计韧性: (1) 提高农村基础设施投入, 完善配套政策; (2) 因地制宜, 实施差异化投入策 略; (3) 加强就业保障, 提升劳动力转移质量; (4) 转变农业生产方式, 推动农业规模化发展和产业结构升级。 </p>

'Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage : A Rare but Life-Threatening Pulmonary Complication of Infective Endocarditis' - a new poster published #OpenAccess on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/hosted-documen

ScienceOpenDIFFUSE ALVEOLAR HAEMORRHAGE : A RARE BUT LIFE-THREATENING PULMONARY COMPLICATION OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d1335651e108"/><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d1335651e109">Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition that may lead to systemic complications, including diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), a rare but serious pulmonary manifestation. We present a case of a 37-year-old male with a history of heavy smoking, alcohol consumption, and prolonged occupational exposure to cotton dust, who developed prolonged fever, cough, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. Clinical examination revealed clubbing, pedal edema, raised JVP, bilateral lung crepitations, and a holosystolic murmur. Blood cultures confirmed Streptococcus viridans, and echocardiography demonstrated vegetations consistent with IE. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed sequentially hemorrhagic return with hemosiderin-laden macrophages, confirming DAH. The patient was managed with intravenous antibiotics, supportive therapy, and close hemodynamic monitoring. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and multidisciplinary management of DAH complicating IE to improve patient outcomes. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d1335651e111"/><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d1335651e112"/>

'Port Infrastructural Investments and Maritime Industry Performance : Evidence From Nigeria' - a new article in the Ibadan Journal of #Sociology by Pluto Journals on #ScienceOpen:

🔗 scienceopen.com/hosted-documen

ScienceOpenPORT INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENTS AND MARITIME INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE : EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d1751951e100">This study investigates the relationship between port infrastructural investments and maritime industry performance in Nigeria. The study aims to evaluate the impact of port infrastructure investments on maritime industry performance and examine how vessel turn-around time influences this performance. The research employed Maritime sector gross domestic product contribution (MSRGDP) as the dependent variable while Infrastructure index (INFRIN) and Vessel turn-around time (VESTAT) served as the independent variables. The work used econometric techniques such as ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis, and co-integration to study the relationship between the variables at 5% confidence level. The study using the modified model with an R-Square value of 0.7224, indicating the model’s goodness of fit, found that investments in port infrastructure (INFRIN) (with coefficient = 0.3067; p-value = 0.0363) and reductions in vessel turn-around time (VESTAT) (with coefficient = -0.1642; p-value = 0.0137) are positively associated with maritime sector GDP (MSRGDP). The results suggest that in the short term, port infrastructure investments showed an immediate impact on MSRGDP, while co-integration analysis revealed sustained benefits (p-value = 0.0001 & 0.0245 for trace and maximum eigenvalue respectively) over several years. Also, reduction in vessel turn-around time revealed an immediate impact on MSRGDP in the short term and the co-integration analysis depicts endured benefits (p-value = 0.0001 & 0.0475 for trace and maximum eigenvalue) over longer years. The study recommends that the government should prioritise modernising port facilities, streamlining cargo handling processes/procedures, and implementing advanced logistics systems to optimise turn-around time. </p>

'Successful treatment of ultra-high-risk refractory #MultipleMyeloma with anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report' - in '#Hematology and #Oncology Discovery' on #ScienceOpen: scienceopen.com/hosted-documen

ScienceOpenSuccessful treatment of ultra-high-risk refractory multiple myeloma with anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d7407018e185">Recently, chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has produced unprecedented and encouraging results in relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) after multiple lines of treatment, especially among high-risk patients; however, most patients inevitably relapse after CAR-T therapy. Exploring therapeutic strategies followed by CAR-T therapy has attracted increasing attention that warrants continued investigation. Herein, we present a young patient with RRMM and ultra-high-risk genetic abnormalities and refractoriness to a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib), immunomodulatory drugs (lenalidomide and pomalidomide), a cytotoxic drug (liposomal doxorubicin), and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. After three lines of treatment, the patient underwent CAR-T therapy targeting BCMA for salvage treatment, then achieved a very good partial response with good tolerability. Subsequently, we performed an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from an HLA-matched unrelated donor as consolidation therapy. The efficacy was evaluated as a stringent complete response 42 days after the allo-HSCT. The patient has achieved progression-free survival for > 9 months after transplantation. The success of our case demonstrated that for carefully selected patients, anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy followed by allo-HSCT is effective and feasible in treating RRMM. A longer duration of follow-up and additional studies are needed to affirm this therapeutic strategy. </p>

'Proportions of memory T cells and expression of their associated cytokines in lymph nodes of mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis' - a #Research article in the Chinese Journal of #Schistosomiasis Control on #ScienceOpen: scienceopen.com/document?vid=7

ScienceOpenProportions of memory T cells and expression of their associated cytokines in lymph nodes of mice infected with <i>Echinococcus multilocularis</i><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d8563416e215"> <b>Objective</b> To investigate the effects of <i>Echinococcus multilocularis</i> infection on levels of memory T (Tm) cells and their subsets in lymph nodes of mice at different stages of infection, so as to provide new insights into immunotherapy for alveolarechinococcosis. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d8563416e223"> <b>Methods</b> Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice aged 6 to 9 weeks were randomly divided into the infection group and the control group, of 12 mice in each group. Mice in the infection group were administered with 3 000 <i>E. multilocularis</i> protoscoleces via portal venous injection, while animals in the control group were administered with an equal volume of physiological saline. Three mice from each group were sacrificed 4, 12 weeks and 24 weeks post-infection, and lymph nodes were sampled and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to investigate the histopathological changes of mouse lymph nodes in the infection group. The expression and localization of T lymphocyte surface markers CD3, CD4, and CD8 were observed in mouse lymph nodes using immunohistochemical staining. In addition, lymphocyte suspensions were prepared from mouse lymph nodes in both groups at different time points post-infection, and the levels of Tm cell subsets and their secreted cytokines were detected using flow cytometry. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d8563416e231"> <b>Results</b> HE staining showed diffuse structural alterations in the subcapsular cortical and paracortical regions of mouse lymph nodes in the infection group 4 weeks post-infection with <i>E. multilocularis</i>. Immunohistochemical staining detected CD3, CD4 and CD8 expression in mouse lymph nodes in both groups. Flow cytometry revealed higher proportions of CD4 <sup>+</sup> Tm cells [(55.3 ± 4.8)% vs. (38.8 ± 6.1)%; <i>t</i> = -4.259, <i>P</i> < 0.05] and CD4 <sup>+</sup> tissue-resident Tm (Trm) cells [(57.7 ± 3.7)% vs. (34.1 ± 11.2)%; <i>t</i> = -3.990, <i>P</i> < 0.05] in mouse lymph nodes in the infection group than in the control group 4 weeks post-infection, and higher proportions of CD4 <sup>+</sup> Tm cells [(34.6 ± 3.2)% vs. (23.3 ± 7.5)%; <i>t</i> = -2.764, <i>P</i> < 0.05] and CD4 <sup>+</sup> Trm cells [(44.0 ± 1.9)% vs. (31.2 ± 1.5)%; <i>t</i> = -4.039, <i>P</i> < 0.05] in mouse lymph nodes in the infection group than in the control group 24 weeks post-infection. The proportions of CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm cells were higher in the infection group than in the control group 4 weeks [(56.8 ± 2.7)% vs. (43.9 ± 5.2)%; <i>t</i> = -4.416, <i>P</i> < 0.01] and 12 weeks post-infection [(25.4 ± 2.7)% vs. (12.0 ± 2.6)%; <i>t</i> = -2.552, <i>P</i> < 0.05], while the proportions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α <sup>+</sup> CD4 <sup>+</sup> T cells [(15.7 ± 5.0)% vs. (49.4 ± 6.4)%; <i>t</i> = 7.150, <i>P</i> < 0.01], TNF-α <sup>+</sup>CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cells [(20.7 ± 5.5)% vs. (57.5 ± 8.4)%; <i>t</i> = -6.694, <i>P</i> < 0.01], and TNF-α <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm cells [7.0% (1.0%) vs. 31.0% (11.0%); <i>Z</i> = -2.236, <i>P</i> < 0.05] were lower in the infection group than in the control group 24 weeks post-infection. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" dir="auto" id="d8563416e331"> <b>Conclusions</b> Tm cells levels are consistently increased in lymph nodes of mice at different stages of <i>E. multilocularis</i> infection, with Trm cells as the predominantly elevated subset. The impaired capacity of CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm cells to secrete the effector molecule TNF-α in mouse lymph nodes at the late-stage infection may facilitate chronic parasitism of <i>E. multilocularis</i>. </p><p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d8563416e346"> <b>[摘要] 目的</b>探讨不同阶段多房棘球蚴感染对小鼠淋巴结记忆性T (memory T, Tm) 细胞及其亚群表达水平的影响, 为多房棘球蚴病免疫治疗提供新思路。 <b>方法</b>24只6 ~ 9周龄C57BL/6J小鼠随机分成感染组和对照组, 每组12只; 感染组小鼠经肝门静脉注射3 000 个原头节, 对照组小鼠注射相同体积生理盐水。于感染后第4、12、24周, 每组小鼠分别各随机取3只处死, 取淋巴结组织后采用苏木精-伊红 (hematoxylin and eosin, HE) 染色法观察感染组小鼠淋巴结组织病理变化。通过免疫组织化学染色观察小鼠淋巴结组织中T淋巴细胞表面标志物CD3、CD4和CD8分子表达及定位。提取不同感染时间两组小鼠淋巴结淋巴细胞悬液, 采用流式细胞术检测Tm细胞亚型及其分泌的细胞因子水平。 <b>结果</b>多房棘球蚴感染后4 周, HE染色显示感染组小鼠淋巴结被膜下的皮质和副皮质区域结构呈弥漫性改变。免疫组织化学染色结果显示, 感染组和对照组小鼠淋巴结组织中均有CD3、CD4和CD8分子表达。流式细胞术检测结果显示, 感染后4周, 感染组小鼠淋巴结中CD4 <sup>+</sup> Tm[ (55.3 ± 4.8) % vs. (38.8 ± 6.1) %; <i>t</i> = -4.259, <i>P</i> < 0.05]、CD4 <sup>+</sup> 组织驻留记忆性T (tissue-resident memory T, Trm) 细胞比例[ (57.7 ± 3.7) % vs. (34.1 ± 11.2) %; <i>t</i> = -3.990, <i>P</i> < 0.05]均显著高于对照组; 感染后24周, 感染组小鼠淋巴结中CD4 <sup>+</sup> Tm[ (34.6 ± 3.2) % vs. (23.3 ± 7.5) %; <i>t</i> = -2.764, <i>P</i> < 0.05]、CD4 <sup>+</sup> Trm细胞比例[ (44.0 ± 1.9) % vs. (31.2 ± 1.5) %; <i>t</i> = -4.039, <i>P</i> < 0.05]亦显著高于对照组。感染后4 周[ (56.8 ± 2.7) % vs. (43.9 ± 5.2) %; <i>t</i> = -4.416, <i>P</i> < 0.01]和12 周[ (25.4 ± 2.7) % vs. (12.0 ± 2.6) %; <i>t</i> = -2.552, <i>P</i> < 0.05], 感染组小鼠淋巴结中CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm细胞比例均显著高于对照组; 感染后24 周, 感染组小鼠淋巴结中肿瘤坏死因子 (tumor necrosis factor, TNF) -α <sup>+</sup> CD4 <sup>+</sup> T[ (15.7 ± 5.0) % vs. (49.4 ± 6.4) %; <i>t</i> = 7.150, <i>P</i> < 0.01]、TNF-α <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>+</sup> T细胞比例[ (20.7 ± 5.5) % vs. (57.5 ± 8.4) %; <i>t</i> = -6.694, <i>P</i> < 0.01]和TNF-α <sup>+</sup>CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm细胞比例[7.0% (1.0%) vs. 31.0% (11.0%); <i>Z</i> = -2.236, <i>P</i> < 0.05]均显著低于对照组。 <b>结论</b>多房棘球蚴感染不同阶段小鼠淋巴结组织中Tm细胞均增加, 以Trm细胞增加为主; 晚期感染阶段, 小鼠淋巴结组织中CD8 <sup>+</sup> Tm细胞分泌效应分子TNF-α能力减弱, 可能有助于多房棘球蚴慢性寄生。 </p>