CD4+ T‐cell subsets play a major role in the host response to infection, and a healthy immune system requires a fine balance between reactivity and tolerance. This balance is in part maintained by regulatory T cells (Treg), which promote tolerance, and loss of immune tolerance contributes to autoimmunity. As the T cells which drive immunity are diverse, identifying and understanding how these subsets function requires specific biomarkers. From a human CD4 Tconv/Treg cell genome wide analysis we identified peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16) as a CD4 subset biomarker and we now show detailed analysis of its distribution, phenotype and links to Treg function in type 1 diabetes.
To determine the clinical relevance of Pi16 Treg, we analysed PI16+ Treg cells from type 1 diabetes patient samples. We observed that FOXP3 expression levels declined with disease progression, suggesting loss of functional fitness in these Treg cells in Type 1 diabetes, and in particular the rate of loss of FOXP3 expression was greatest in the PI16+ve Treg. We propose that PI16 has utility as a biomarker of functional human Treg subsets and may be useful for tracking loss of immune function in vivo. The ability to stratify at risk patients so that tailored interventions can be applied would open the door to personalised medicine for Type 1 diabetes.
Parvimonas micra has been identified as a prominent oral pathogen. This organism has been implicated in periodontal, soft tissue and bone infections. It causes a subacute presentation with high morbidity. We present a case of severe infective endocarditis caused by Parvimonas micra requiring valvular surgery despite appropriate antibiotics. To our knowledge, this is the second case report of Parvimonas micra infective endocarditis since its reclassification in 2006.
Purpose
The paper considers the evolution of a tailored university induction program over time to establish the change in the nature and content of the program.
Design/methodology/approach
The induction program is pitched against the conceptual backdrop of academic norms and conventions, language, integration and the role of mentoring. As an exploratory study of a unique and complex induction program it reports on the basis of discourse analysis over time (from 2009 to 2012).
Findings
The paper establishes that consideration of feedback by students, university staff (academic and professional) and external stakeholders has allowed the program to morph to a balanced content of academic; social; and socio-academic integration activities.
Research limitations/implications
The paper confirms the framework proposed by Zepke and Leach (2005) and renders a further level of validity to the model when applied in a cross-cultural higher education context.
Practical implications
Practical implications include the value of involving stakeholders as source of knowledge for considering continuous improvements and the notion that a remedial approach to integration of international students proves to be ineffective.
Originality/value
Articulation pathways for Chinese university students into Australian universities create a unique set of expectations and challenges to both the students and the Australian universities. A tailor made induction program is a crucial step in addressing these and requires continuous improvement to retain relevance and optimise impact and resources.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.