Measurements of h(c)(1P(1)) in psi' decays

We present measurements of the charmonium state h(c)(1P(1)) made with 106x10(6) psi' events collected by BESIII at BEPCII. Clear signals are observed for psi'-->pi0 h(c) with and without the subsequent radiative decay h(c)-->gamma eta(c). First measurements of the absolute branching ratios B(psi'-->pi0 h(c)) = (8.4+/-1.3+/-1.0) x 10(-4) and B(h(c)-->gamma eta(c)) = (54.3+/-6.7+/-5.2)% are presented. A statistics-limited determination of the previously unmeasured h(c) width leads to an upper limit Gamma(h(c))<1.44 MeV (90% confidence). Measurements of M(h(c)) = 3525.40+/-0.13+/-0.18 MeV/c2 and B(psi'-->pi0 h(c)) x B(h(c)-->gamma eta(c)) = (4.58+/-0.40+/-0.50) x 10(-4) are consistent with previous results.

Inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir4.1 is responsible for the native inward potassium conductance of satellite glial cells in sensory ganglia

Satellite glial cells (SGCs) surround primary afferent neurons in sensory ganglia, and increasing evidence has implicated the K(+) channels of SGCs in affecting or regulating sensory ganglion excitability. The inwardly rectifying K(+) (Kir) channel Kir4.1 is highly expressed in several types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) where it has been implicated in extracellular K(+) concentration buffering. Upon neuronal activity, the extracellular K(+) concentration increases, and if not corrected, causes neuronal depolarization and uncontrolled changes in neuronal excitability. Recently, it has been demonstrated that knockdown of Kir4.1 expression in trigeminal ganglia leads to neuronal hyperexcitability in this ganglia and heightened nociception. Thus, we investigated the contribution of Kir4.1 to the membrane K(+) conductance of SGCs in neonatal and adult mouse trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. Whole cell patch clamp recordings were performed in conjunction with immunocytochemistry and quantitative transcript analysis in various mouse lines. We found that in wild-type mice, the inward K(+) conductance of SGCs is blocked almost completely with extracellular barium, cesium and desipramine, consistent with a conductance mediated by Kir channels. We then utilized mouse lines in which genetic ablation led to partial or complete loss of Kir4.1 expression to assess the role of this channel subunit in SGCs. The inward K(+) currents of SGCs in Kir4.1+/- mice were decreased by about half while these currents were almost completely absent in Kir4.1-/- mice. These findings in combination with previous reports support the notion that Kir4.1 is the principal Kir channel type in SGCs. Therefore Kir4.1 emerges as a key regulator of SGC function and possibly neuronal excitability in sensory ganglia.

Waist circumference, body mass index and waist to hip ratio for prediction of the metabolic syndrome in Chinese

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To explore the ability of waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) to predict two or more non-adipose components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) among individuals aged 18-85 in North China.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study is a cluster sample survey of 101,510 individuals, complete data are 75,788 subjects, 59,874 males and 15,914 females. Their ages were 51.9+/-12.7 years (males) and 48.7+/-11.5 years (females). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine discrimination and find optimal cut off values of WC, BMI and WHR to predict two or more non-adipose components of MetS. The area under the ROC curve (AURC) for WC (0.694) and BMI (0.692) in females showed no difference. In males BMI (0.657) had a better discrimination than WC (0.634). WHR was weaker in both sexes. The optimal cut off value of WC in males (86.5 cm) was higher than in females (82.1cm); and that of BMI was about 24 kg/m(2) in both genders. The optimal cut off values of WC, BMI, and WHR, increased with age in both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI and WC are more useful than WHR for predicting two or more non-adipose components of MetS. Cut off values for WC in males, and those of BMI and WHR in both sexes are lower than that in present MetS criteria; WC in females is slightly higher. Cut off values of WC, BMI and WHR were increased with age in the Chinese.

Orexin-A inputs onto visuomotor cell groups in the monkey brainstem

Orexin-A, synthesized by neurons of the lateral hypothalamus helps to maintain wakefulness through excitatory projections to nuclei involved in arousal. Obvious changes in eye movements, eyelid position and pupil reactions seen in the transition to sleep led to the investigation of orexin-A projections to visuomotor cell groups to determine whether direct pathways exist that may modify visuomotor behaviors during the sleep-wake cycle. Histological markers were used to define these specific visuomotor cell groups in monkey brainstem sections and combined with orexin-A immunostaining. The dense supply by orexin-A boutons around adjacent neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus served as a control standard for a strong orexin-A input. The quantitative analysis assessing various functional cell groups of the oculomotor system revealed that almost no input from orexin-A terminals reached motoneurons supplying the singly-innervated muscle fibers of the extraocular muscles in the oculomotor nucleus, the omnipause neurons in the nucleus raphe interpositus and the premotor neurons in the rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. In contrast, the motoneurons supplying the multiply-innervated muscle fibers of the extraocular muscles, the motoneurons of the levator palpebrae muscle in the central caudal nucleus, and especially the preganglionic neurons supplying the ciliary ganglion received a strong orexin input. We interpret these results as evidence that orexin-A does modulate pupil size, lid position, and possibly convergence and eye alignment via the motoneurons of multiply-innervated muscle fibres. However orexin-A does not directly modulate premotor pathways for saccades or the singly-innervated muscle fibre motoneurons.

Experimental and theoretical screening of nanoscale oxide reactivity with LiBH4

Experimentation, thermodynamic modeling, and atomic modeling were combined to screen the reactivity of SiO2, Al2O3, and ZrO2 nanoscale oxides with LiBH4. Equilibrium thermodynamic modeling showed that the reactions of oxides with LiBH4 could lead to formation of stable Li-bearing oxide and metal boride phases. Experimentation was conducted to evaluate the discharge/recharge reaction products of nanoscale oxide-LiBH4 mixtures. Thermal gravimetric analyses-mass spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction revealed significant SiO2 destabilization of LiBH4 dehydrogenation, resulting in the formation of lithium silicate and boric acid. A smaller amount of lithium metaborate and boric acid was formed with Al2O3. No destabilization products were observed with ZrO2. Density functional theory atomic modeling predicted much stronger LiBH4 interfacial adsorption on the SiO2 and Al2O3 surfaces than on the ZrO2 surface, which was consistent with the experimental findings. Following dehydrogenation, interfacial Li atoms were predicted to strongly adsorb on the oxide surfaces effectively competing with LiH formation. The interfacial Li interactions with Al2O3 and ZrO2 were equal in strength in the fully hydrided and dehydrided states, so that their predicted net effect on LiBH4 dehydrogenation was insignificant. Zirconia was selected for nanoframework development based on the combined observations of compatibility and weaker associative interactions with LiBH4.

Phase II study of dasatinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Better systemic therapies are needed. One potential therapeutic target is c-Src which is expressed and activated in NSCLC patient tumors where it can mediate invasion, angiogenesis, and proliferation. Additionally, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-Src cooperate to promote NSCLC survival. We are conducting a phase II study of dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of c-Src, Abl, c-Kit, PDGFR, Btk, and EphA2. The primary objective is to determine the rate of progression free survival at 12 weeks in patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with dasatinib as front line therapy. Methods: Patients with metastatic NSCLC were treated with dasatinib (100 mg BID), with PET/CT scans every 6 weeks. KRAS and EGFR mutations, EGFR copy number, and pSrc expression were measured in pre-treatment biopsies. Blood was collected pretreatment and on day 21 to measure drug exposure (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and serum cytokine levels. Results: Twenty five patients have enrolled on study. Of the 16 patients evaluable for response: 1 had a partial response (PR) with no evidence of recurrence for at least 18 months (male smoker with adenocarcinoma and KRAS mutation); 6 patients had stable disease (SD) which includes 3 patients with prolonged stable disease for 4, 6, and 18 months; 9 had progressive disease (PD). Only 4 patients had a significant change in SUV (>25%): decreased in 2 with PR and SD and increased in 2 with PD and SD. There is currently no clear association between EGFR and KRAS mutational analysis and response, although the sample number is small. Only 2 patients have activating EGFR mutations: one with SD and one with PD. PK, PD, and cytokine data will be presented. The most common grade 3/4 toxicity is dyspnea/pleural effusion that has led to a reduced dasatinib starting dose in subsequent patients. Conclusions: Dasatinib as a single agent has activity in a subset of patients with NSCLC. Planned correlative studies may lead to the discovery of biomarkers that predict response. Toxicities observed were consistent with prior dasatinib phase I studies in solid tumor patients. Supported by NCI/CTEP (NIH contract N01-CM-62202), The Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

[Table: see text]

The clinical pathogensis significance associated with mutation of APC MCR in colorectal neoplasms

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Background: To explore the clinical pathogensis evalution of codon 1493,1367 and 1328 mutations in MCR (mutation cluster region) of exon 15 of APC (Adenomatous polyposis coli) gene in cases of colorectal neoplasm and the family history. Methods: The specimens from 21 colorectal adenoma specimens groups,16 colorectal carcinoma groups, 20 healthy germline groups with positive familial history and 8 healthy germline groups without familial history. MCR of APC gene were extracted and specificly amplified, then sequenced by sequencer, the codon mutations were analyzed between the 4 groups and various genotypes tested with Chi-square. Results: The codon mutations were three variations: 1493(ACG > ACA), 63/69(91.3%); 1367(CAG > TAG), 1/69(1.4%) and 1328(CAG>TAG), 5/69(7.2%). The allele mutations were checked out four genotypes such as 4478(G→A), 41/69(59.4%); 4478(G/A), 22/69(31.9%); 4096(C/T), 1/69 (1.4%) and 3979(C/T), 5/69(7.2%); but the significant groups status (P<0.05) were shown between the adenoma and nonfamily history group on the analysis of 4478(G→A) and (G/A), also the significant differences were tested between the with and without family history on the analysis of 4478(G→A). The significant differences (P<0.05) in pathogensis mutant phenotypes were involved between 4478(G→A) with 4478(G/A), 4096(C/T) and 3979(C/T), respectively; also showed between 4478(G/A) with 4096(C/T) and 3979(C/T); but not between 4096(C/T) and 3979(C/T) (P>0.05). Conclusions: In our data, the highest mutant frequency 4478(G→A) of 1493(ACG>ACA) presented to the significant phenotype of positive history and adenoma, but 4478 (G/A) were associated with colorectal adenocancer, which was discovered in the different effect to candidators despite the same synonymous mutation. In researches, APC MCR codon 1367 and 1328 genotyping were significantly presented in the colorectal cancergenetic phenotypes in somatic cells only.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Correlation between K-ras mutations status and benefit from cetuximab treatment in advanced colorectal cancer

e15084

Background: Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks the EGFR. We follow -up study the efficacy and toxicity of cetuximab with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer from Chinese in East China. Methods: We analyzed tumor samples from 120 patients with advanced colorectal cancer by direct sequencing, to observe the mutations status in exon 2,3 of K-ras gene. And 30 patients were followed up according the RECIST standard for their treatment outcome of cetuximab plus chemotherapy at 2 -12 months. Results: K-ras mutations were identified in 48 of 120(40%) patients with colorectal cancer in exon2, which including 8 mutation types; 38/48(79.2%) mutations in 12 codon(G12D 43.7%,G12V 25%,G12C 10.4%,G12R 6%,G12S 4%,G12A 2%) and 10/48(18.7%) in 13 codon(G13D 18.7%,G13C 2%). None mutation was found in 61codon of exon3. we observed the clinical efficacy of 30 patients treated by cetuximab plus chemotherapy, of 21 patients with wild-type K-ras tumors as compared with 9 patients with mutated K-ras significantly improved the response rate (5/21 21.8% vs 1/9 11.1%,P<0.01)and the disease control rate (19/21 90.4% vs,2/9 22.2%,P<0.01). There were a few patients with mutated K-ras tumors benefit from cetuximab, in which the fluorescence intensity of mutation cells of all detected tumor tissue approach to 1:3 status by sequencing analysis. The major toxicities of treatment were acne-like rash, which were found in 14/21(66.6%)of patients with wild-type K- ras, and 5/9(55.5%)of patients with mutated K-ras . Conclusions: The East-China patients share the same (40%) mutation frequency and type of k-ras gene with other races . Patients with wild type K-ras mutation have significantly higher Response rate and disease control rate on cetuximab plus chemotherapy treatment .Our results once again show that somatic mutations status of k-ras is a major determinant of cetuximab response in advanced colorectal cancer. There was no statistical correlation between acne-like rash of the major toxicities and mutations status of k-ras. There were a few patients bearing mutated k-ras did benefit from cetuximab, that would need to be validation between Chinese or Ethnicity association phenotype by a large numbers of samples.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Endoprosthetic replacement for primary tumours around the knee: experience from Peking University

In developing countries locally-made low-cost prostheses are mainly used in limb-salvage surgery to alleviate the economic burden. We retrospectively collected data on 104 patients treated by limb-salvage surgery between July 1997 and July 2005. We used a locally-designed and fabricated stainless-steel endoprosthesis in each case. Oncological and functional outcomes were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 47 months (12 to 118). A total of 73 patients (70.2%) were free from disease, nine (8.7%) were alive with disease, 19 (18.2%) had died from their disease and three (2.9%) from unrelated causes. According to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system, the mean functional score was 76.3% (SD 17.8). The five-year survival for the implant was 70.5%. There were nine cases (8.7%) of infection, seven early and two late, seven (6.7%) of breakage of the prosthesis, three (2.9%) of aseptic loosening and two (1.9%) of failure of the polyethylene bushing. Multivariate analysis showed that a proximal tibial prosthesis and a resection length of 14 cm or more were significant negative prognostic factors. Our survival rates and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores are similar to those reported in the literature. Although longer follow-up is needed to confirm our results, we believe that a low-cost custom-made endoprosthesis is a cost-effective and reliable reconstructive option for limb salvage in developing countries.