CD8+ T cells can express NK-associated receptors (NKRs) that may regulate their cytolytic function. We have characterized the expression of several NKRs on peripheral blood CD8+ T cells from melanoma patients and compared them to age-matched healthy donors. The analysis performed includes HLA class I specific receptors (KIRs, LILRB1 and CD94/NKG2) and other NK receptors like CD57, CD56 and CD16. Melanoma patients showed a higher variability in the expression of NKRs on circulating CD8+ T cells than age-matched healthy donors. NKR expression on CD8+ T cells from melanoma patients showed a significant increase of KIR2DL2/L3/S2 (mAb gl183), CD244, CD57, CD56 and CD16. We have also found an increase of CD8+ CD28- CD27- T cells in melanoma patients. This subset represents terminally differentiated effector cells expressing CD244 and high levels of perforin. The expression of NKRs was also mainly restricted to this T cell subset. Altogether, circulating CD8+ T cells from melanoma patients display a distinct phenotype characterized by downregulation of costimulatory molecules and higher expression of NKRs. We suggest that the increased expression of NKRs on T cells may contribute to the final outcome of the immune response against melanoma both stimulating or inhibiting activation and differentiation to effector cells. Blocking inhibitory receptor function and enhancing activating receptors may represent new strategies with therapeutic potential against melanoma.

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In infertile patients treated with mildly ovarian stimulation with recombinant gonadotropins and IUI, luteal phase support with vaginal progesterone is not associated with higher livebirth rate or clinical pregnancy rate compared with patients who did not receive any luteal phase support.

Background: To determine the impacts of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on retinal and choroidal thickness measurement in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Participants were 28 patients with OSA treated with CPAP who were enrolled immediately after diagnosis and graded according to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) determined in an overnight polysomnography. Inclusion criteria were a new diagnosis of OSA and an indication for CPAP. Participants underwent a full ophthalmologic examination including standard automated perimetry (SAP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the levels peripapillary, macular, and choroidal before CPAP onset, and after three and twelve months of CPAP. The data compared before and after treatment were intraocular pressure, SAP, and the thicknesses peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), total retinal (TR), retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), photoreceptor layer (PL), and choroidal. Results: After 3 months of CPAP, we observed thickening of the pRNFL (in 5/6 subfields) (p < 0.004) and TR (in 5/9 subfields) (p < 0.010). At 12 months, thickening persisted in these layers, this time affecting 2/6 and 2/9 subfields, respectively (p < 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). Choroidal thinning was observed at the temporal level at both 3 and 12 months compared to measurements before starting CPAP treatment (p = 0.014 and p = 0.038, respectively). SAP remained unchanged. Intraocular pressure was higher at 12 months than at 3 months (p = 0.001). Conclusions: 12 months of CPAP avoids retinal thinning and normalizes choroidal thickness in OSA patients.

The lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) could be affected by dynamic changes in its structure. Using Spectral-domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), we have studied the behaviour of the laminar region in 14 young subjects over 24h. Significant changes in LCT were observed, depending on the time at which the measurement was taken, with the maximum thickness being observed at 7.30 p.m., and the minimum at 7.30 a.m. This finding could suggests a circadian pattern in the LCT thickness in healthy subjects, which could have implications for the classification, diagnosis and prognosis of both normal and glaucomatous subjects.