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Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system; they can control virus infections and developing tumors by cytotoxicity and producing inflammatory cytokines. Most studies of mouse NK cells, however, have focused on conventional NK (cNK) cells in the spleen. Recently, we described two populations of liver NK cells, tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells and those resembling splenic cNK cells. However, their lineage relationship was unclear; trNK cells could be developing cNK cells, related to thymic NK cells, or a lineage distinct from both cNK and thymic NK cells. Herein we used detailed transcriptomic, flow cytometric, and functional analysis and transcription factor-deficient mice to determine that liver trNK cells form a distinct lineage from cNK and thymic NK cells. Taken together with analysis of trNK cells in other tissues, there are at least four distinct lineages of NK cells: cNK, thymic, liver (and skin) trNK, and uterine trNK cells. Our immune system has white blood cells that migrate throughout the body in search of invading microbes or diseased and damaged cells. When these events are encountered, the white blood cells move into the affected tissue and launch an immune response to eliminate the threat. Natural killer cells are white blood cells that kill cells that are infected with viruses or are cancerous. Most of what is known about conventional natural killer cells is derived from studying the spleen, which filters the blood and contains many immune cells. Natural killer cells also circulate around the body or are found within other tissues, and it was thought that both types of cells were either the same, or that one type could develop into the other. However, the thymus—an organ that is another source of white blood cells—contains a sub-population of natural killer cells that are distinct from the conventional splenic natural killer cells. Furthermore, recent work revealed the existence of two types of natural killer cells within the liver: some of these cells were similar to the conventional splenic natural killer cells that circulate throughout the body, while others appeared to be ‘tissue-resident’ natural killer cells that were poised to deliver an immune response. Now Sojka et al. show that the tissue-resident natural killer cells found in the liver are a distinct lineage of cells. These cells mature independently from the conventional natural killer cells found in the spleen, and the natural killer cells found in the thymus. Moreover, the skin contains tissue-resident natural killer cells similar to those in the liver; whilst natural killer cells that had previously been discovered in the uterus were shown to contain a fourth distinct tissue-resident lineage. The work of Sojka et al. will encourage a full re-evaluation of the roles played by natural killer cells to determine which populations of these cells are responsible for implementing immune responses. Furthermore, a more thorough understanding of how tissue-resident natural killer cells function to eliminate diseased or damaged cells, such as cancerous cells, could also contribute to future efforts to develop new anti-cancer treatments.

Alternatively activated (M2) macrophages use fatty acid oxidation for their metabolic needs. Pearce and colleagues show that triacylglycerols metabolized by lysosomal acid lipase are required for the M2 activation of and function of macrophages. Alternative (M2) activation of macrophages driven via the α-chain of the receptor for interleukin 4 (IL-4Rα) is important for immunity to parasites, wound healing, the prevention of atherosclerosis and metabolic homeostasis. M2 polarization is dependent on fatty acid oxidation (FAO), but the source of the fatty acids that support this metabolic program has not been clear. We found that the uptake of triacylglycerol substrates via the scavenger receptor CD36 and their subsequent lipolysis by lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) was important for the engagement of elevated oxidative phosphorylation, enhanced spare respiratory capacity (SRC), prolonged survival and expression of genes that together define M2 activation. Inhibition of lipolysis suppressed M2 activation during infection with a parasitic helminth and blocked protective responses to this pathogen. Our findings delineate a critical role for cell-intrinsic lysosomal lipolysis in M2 activation.

  Phosphorescence is considered one of the non-invasive glioblastoma testing methods based on studying molecular energy and the metabolism of L-tryptophan (Trp) through KP, which provides essential information on regulating immunity and neuronal function. This study aimed to conduct a feasibility study using phosphorescence in clinical oncology as an early prognostic test in detecting Glioblastoma. This study was conducted on 1039 patients who were operated on with follow-up between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2022, and retrospectively evaluated in participating institutions in Ukraine (the Department of Oncology, Radiation Therapy, Oncosurgery, and Palliative Care at the Kharkiv National Medical University). Method of protein phosphorescence detection included two steps. During the first step, of luminol-dependent phosphorescence intensity in serum was carried out after its activation by the light source, according to the spectrofluorimeter method, as follows. At a temperature of 30 °C, serum drops were dried for 20 min to form a solid film. After that, we put the quartz plate with dried serum in a phosphoroscope of luminescent complex and measured the intensity. With the help of Max-Flux Diffraction Optic Parallel Beam Graded Multilayer Monochromator (Rigaku Americas Corporation) following spectral lines as 297, 313, 334, 365, 404, and 434 nm were distinguished and absorbed by serum film in the form of light quantum. The monochromator exit split width was 0.5 mm. Considering the limitations of each of the non-invasive tools currently available, phosphorescence-based diagnostic methods are ideally integrated into the NIGT platform: a non-invasive approach for visualizing a tumor and its main tumor characteristics in the spatial and temporal order. Because trp is present in virtually every cell in the body, these fluorescent and phosphorescent fingerprints can be used to detect cancer in many different organs. Using phosphorescence, it is possible to create predictive models for GBM in both primary and secondary diagnostics. This will assist clinicians in selecting the appropriate treatment option, monitoring treatment, and adapting to the era of patient-centered precision medicine.

Background Assessment of ‘physiological stress levels’ and ‘nutritional status’ before surgery is important for predicting complications and indirect interventions on the pancreas. The aim of this study was to determine neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and nutritional risk index (NRI) indicators before surgery to predict 90-day complications and mortality in a cohort of patients with complicated chronic pancreatitis and cancer of the head of the pancreas. Methods We evaluated preoperative levels of NLR and NRI among 225 subjects treated at different centres located in three countries. Short-term outcomes included length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and mortality at 90 days and were appreciated based on NLR and NRI. The level of physiological stress was divided according by the formulas: neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) = (neutrophil count, %)/(lymphocyte count, %). The nutritional state of the patients was divided according to the INR: NRI = (1.519 × serum albumin, g/L) + (41.7 × present weight, kg / usual weight, kg)]. Results All patients were operated. An analysis of the operations performed in three institutions demonstrated mortality in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocysts in 1.4%, in chronic pancreatitis and the presence of an inflammatory mass mainly in the pancreatic head in 1.2%, and in cancer of the pancreatic head in 5.9%. The mean preoperative NLR was normal in 33.8% of the patients, the mild physiologic stress level was 54.7%, and the moderate was 11.5% before surgery. 10.2% of patients had a normal nutritional status, 20% had mild, 19.6% had moderate, and 50.2% had severe malnutrition. In a univariate analysis, at the cutoff of NLR ≥ 9.5 (AUC = 0.803) and the cutoff of NRI ≤ 98.5 (AUC = 0.801), increasing the risk of complications was observed (hazard ratio, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.247–3.250, p  = 0.006), but at the cutoff of NRI ≤ 83.55 (AUC = 0.81), we observed a survival difference in operated patients (hazard ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.334–3.477, p  = 0.0025). Conclusions Our study demonstrated that NLR and NRI were predictors of postoperative complications, but only NRI was a predictor of 90-day mortality in patients after surgery.

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of air temperature on the duration of the growing season in Western Siberia (Russia). Material and methods: phenological observation of 6 varieties of spring barley (Abalak, Zolotnik Naran, Tandem, DLA-14 and Pasadena) was carried out for the period from 2016 to 2020. The sensitivity of varieties to temperature conditions is determined. The optimal average daily air temperature during the interphase periods was established: shoots-heading 31-35 days, and heading-ripeness 34-37 days. The optimal sums of effective temperatures above 10 ºC, necessary for the growth, and development of spring barley varieties, have been calculated. The Abalak variety was distinguished by a narrow temperature range in both interphase periods (the first period - 0.7 ºC; the second - 2.3 ºC), which indicates a low plasticity of this variety. The agrometeorological characteristic obtained from the data of field experiments can be used to identify the areas of cultivation of varieties, as well as for a scientifically based assessment of the territory in relation to the variety. The optimal, minimum air temperatures for each variety are calculated. The sensitivity of varieties to temperature changes was studied.

This article presents data on the results of a long-term study of promising lines of spring barley in the Tyumen region. The experiment was conducted in 2019-2022 at the experimental field of SRIA (Russia) using generally accepted methods of analysis and standard techniques. 56 samples were evaluated, including 36 of them evaluated by two precursors (peas and spring grains). The analysis of the data showed a decrease in yield according to the predecessor – cereals, without fertilizers by 14.8%. The growing conditions significantly influenced the grain nature, hoodness, protein and fat content (the share of influence was 85.8, 60.9, 55.5 and 72.7%, respectively). The weight of 1000 grains largely depended on varietal characteristics (the share of influence was 63.1%). The formation of starch was significantly influenced by the interaction of genotype and environment (the share of influence was 71.6%, respectively). As a result of the breeding material evaluation, 17 promising samples of spring barley, including four huskless ones, were identified.

Three models of abundance dynamics for forest insects that depict the development of outbreak populations were analyzed. We studied populations of the Siberian silkmoth Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv. in Siberia and the Far East of Russia, as well as a population of the pine looper Bupalus piniarius L. in Thuringia, Germany. The first model (autoregression) characterizes the mechanism where current population density is dependent on population densities in previous k years. The second model considers an outbreak as analogous to a first-order phase transition in physical systems and characterizes the outbreak as a transition through a potential barrier from a low-density state to a high-density state. The third model treats an outbreak as an effect of stochastic resonance influenced by a cyclical factor such as solar activity and the “noise” of weather parameters. The discussion focuses on the prediction effectiveness of abundance dynamics and outbreak development for each model.

Several recommendations and data on the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) are conflicting and different surgical approaches continue to exist. We conducted a study on 148 patients with ANP, who were divided into two groups: the main group (n = 95) when the tactics of the step-up approach were applied with the principles of the concept of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in order to determine this approach on effectiveness in reducing complications and 30-day mortality (2017–2022); the comparison group (n = 53) when the same tactic of the treatment was used without ERAS principles (2015–2016). Treatment time for the main group in the intensive care unit was minimized (p ≤ 0.004); it has been shown to reduce the frequency of complications in these patients (p < 0.001) requiring conservative or surgical treatment without general anaesthesia (Clavien-Dindo I-IIIa); no statistically significant differences were observed for the total incidence of Clavien-Dindo IIIb-IVb complications (p > 0.05); the median duration of treatment for patients in the primary group was 23 days, and in the reference group—34 days (p ≤ 0.003). Pancreatic infections have been observed in 92 (62.2%) patients and gram-negative bacteria predominated in the overall pathogen structure with 222 (70.7%) strains. The only evidence of multiple organ failure before (AUC = 0.814) and after surgery (AUC = 0.931) was found to be predictive of mortality. Antibiotic sensitivity of all isolated bacteria better understood local epidemiology and identified the most effective antibiotics when treating patients.

The paper considers a new approach to modeling the relationship between the increase in woody phytomass in the pine forest and satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) (MODIS/AQUA) data. The developed model combines the phenological and forest growth processes. For the analysis, NDVI and LST (MODIS) satellite data were used together with the measurements of tree-ring widths (TRW). NDVI data contain features of each growing season. The models include parameters of parabolic approximation of NDVI and LST time series transformed using principal component analysis. The study shows that the current rate of TRW is determined by the total values of principal components of the satellite indices over the season and the rate of tree increment in the preceding year.

The present study addresses the population dynamics of five species of phyllophagous forest insects in five habitats located in the Krasnoturansk pine forest (south Middle Siberia). Based on the data of insect surveys obtained during 1979–2016, autoregressive (AR) models of population dynamics have been proposed, with the current population density being dependent on population densities of the preceding years. Methods of calculation of the autoregression order and coefficients of AR equations have been presented. The study shows that, for different insect species in different habitats, the lags between the current population density and the densities of the previous years are not the same. AR equations characterize positive and negative feedbacks regulating population dynamics. By using AR equations, up to 90% of population density variance can be taken into account. Stability margin, which is calculated from coefficients of AR models, has been proposed as a parameter to assess the stability of population dynamics. A small stability margin indicates a high risk of outbreak of an insect species.