Shape Evolution in Neutron-Rich Krypton Isotopes Beyond N=60: First Spectroscopy of ^{98,100}Kr

We report on the first γ-ray spectroscopy of low-lying states in neutron-rich ^{98,100}Kr isotopes obtained from ^{99,101}Rb(p,2p) reactions at ∼220  MeV/nucleon. A reduction of the 2_{1}^{+} state energies beyond N=60 demonstrates a significant increase of deformation, shifted in neutron number compared to the sharper transition observed in strontium and zirconium isotopes. State-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction predict level energies in good agreement with experimental results. The identification of a low-lying (0_{2}^{+}, 2_{2}^{+}) state in ^{98}Kr provides the first experimental evidence of a competing configuration at low energy in neutron-rich krypton isotopes consistent with the oblate-prolate shape coexistence picture suggested by theory.

A correlation study between IgH gene rearrangement and orbital lymphoma removal operation prognosis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between IgH gene rearrangement and orbital MALT (mucose-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma removal operation prognosis, and to quantify the effect of IgH gene rearrangement on primary orbital MALT lymphoma prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-eight patient cases with primary orbital MALT lymphoma were included in this study. Orbital lymphoma specimens were embedded in paraffin for sectioning. IgH gene rearrangement was detected using PCR. The correlation between IgH gene rearrangement and the patient recurrence and survival rates were determined using statistical analysis. The aforementioned rates were calculated and a survival curve was determined. p-values lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

We found that the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 90.8% in patients with orbital MALT lymphoma (mean value 56.7 months, range 52-60 months). The use of IgH gene rearrangement detection methods found that the non-recurrence rate of primary orbital MALT lymphoma cases was 79.3%. Survival analysis revealed that IgH gene rearrangement was significantly correlated with recurrence of orbital MALT lymphoma (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IgH gene rearrangement detection can be improved by the combined usage of multiple primer pairs, especially family specific primers. In the future, detection of IgH gene rearrangement may be used as a novel marker to predict the prognosis of patients with primary orbital MALT lymphoma.

Transition from Anomalous Hall Effect to Topological Hall Effect in Hexagonal Non-Collinear Magnet Mn3Ga

We report experimental observation of large anomalous Hall effect exhibited in non-collinear triangular antiferromagnet D0₁₉-type Mn₃Ga with coplanar spin structure at temperatures higher than 100 K. The value of anomalous Hall resistivity increases with increasing temperature, which reaches 1.25 μΩ · cm at a low field of ~300 Oe at room temperature. The corresponding room-temperature anomalous Hall conductivity is about 17 (Ω · cm)⁻¹. Most interestingly, as temperature falls below 100 K, a temperature-independent topological-like Hall effect was observed. The maximum peak value of topological Hall resistivity is about 0.255 μΩ · cm. The appearance of the topological Hall effect is attributed to the change of spin texture as a result of weak structural distortion from hexagonal to orthorhombic symmetry in Mn₃Ga. Present study suggests that Mn₃Ga shows promising possibility to be antiferromagnetic spintronics or topological Hall effect-based data storage devices.

Are There Signatures of Harmonic Oscillator Shells Far from Stability? First Spectroscopy of ^{110}Zr

The first measurement of the low-lying states of the neutron-rich ^{110}Zr and ^{112}Mo was performed via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy after one proton removal on hydrogen at ∼200  MeV/nucleon. The 2_{1}^{+} excitation energies were found at 185(11) keV in ^{110}Zr, and 235(7) keV in ^{112}Mo, while the R_{42}=E(4_{1}^{+})/E(2_{1}^{+}) ratios are 3.1(2), close to the rigid rotor value, and 2.7(1), respectively. These results are compared to modern energy density functional based configuration mixing models using Gogny and Skyrme effective interactions. We conclude that first levels of ^{110}Zr exhibit a rotational behavior, in agreement with previous observations of lighter zirconium isotopes as well as with the most advanced Monte Carlo shell model predictions. The data, therefore, do not support a harmonic oscillator shell stabilization scenario at Z=40 and N=70. The present data also invalidate predictions for a tetrahedral ground state symmetry in ^{110}Zr.

Surgical safety analysis of retaining the glands in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to analyze the surgical safety of retaining the glands in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (mPTC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

156 cases of mPTC were retrospectively reviewed and divided into four groups according to the treatment: group A (conservative follow-up group, 30 cases), group B (total resection of unilateral gland combined with isthmic resection, 48 cases), group C (total resection of unilateral gland combined with subtotal resection of contralateral gland, 47 cases), and group D (total resection of bilateral glands, 31 cases). The average follow-up time was 34.5 months.

RESULTS

The occurrence rate of hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and total occurrence rate in the group B were significantly lower than in the group C and group D, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The 75% survival time was 33 months in group A, 35 months in group B, and 34 months in group D. The survival time of group A was significantly less than in the other groups, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the comparison of total mortality rate and recurrence rate (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The total resection of the unilateral gland combined with isthmic resection, which conserves gland functionality, reduces complications and maintains survival time. It is, therefore, worthy of further clinical application.

The Therapeutic Effect of Pancreatic Kininogenase on Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: To determine the therapeutic efficacy and cost-effective of pancreatic kininogenase (PKase) on treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) compared with Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: 104 patients with DPN receiving standard glucose control therapy were randomly assigned into 3 groups: Group-A received PKase treatment, Group-B received PGE1 treatment, and Group-C received only standard glucose control therapy. Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) score, neurophysiology examination, and nerve conduction velocity were measured. Results: Standard glucose control therapy significantly reduced hyperglycemia to a similar level in all groups. Questionnaire grading and neurophysiology examination both indicated that no significant difference was found at the end of treatment between Groups -A and -B. Except for the ulnar nerve sensory conduction velocity that was significantly improved in Group-B, the remaining nerve conduction velocity (regardless of sensory or motor nerve conduction velocities) was improved to a similar level in Groups -A and -B. Group-A had significantly reduced questionnaire grading and better improvement in motor nerve conduction velocity of the common peroneal nerve, ulnar nerve, and sensory nerve conduction velocity of the sural nerve as compared with Group-C. However, the medical cost of PKase was only 18.9% of that of PGE1 during one course of treatment. Conclusions: PKase has the similar therapeutic efficacy as PGE1 on treatment of DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the medical cost of PKase is one fifth of that of PGE1. Thus, PKase is a cost-effective drug for treatment of DPN.

The effect of six degree of freedom loading sequence on the in-vitro compressive properties of human lumbar spine segments

The complex, direction-dependent, poro-viscoelastic properties of the intervertebral disc (disc) suggest that investigations of the six degree of freedom (6DOF) behaviour may be susceptible to inter-test variation in mechanical response if the disc does not return to initial conditions between loading directions. No studies have quantified the effects of sequential multi-directional loading on the consistency of the compressive response of the disc throughout a 6DOF testing protocol. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of 6DOF loading on the compressive properties (stiffness and phase angle) of human discs, as evaluated by a reference compression test performed after each single DOF test. Fourteen intact human functional spinal units (FSU) were tested in each of ±6DOFs (shear directions followed by bending and compression) across four orders of magnitude loading frequencies (0.001-1Hz), followed by reference compression tests while subjected to physiological preload, hydration, and body temperature conditions in a hexapod robot. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant within-subjects effects between the reference compression tests for modulus (p<0.001), stiffness (p<0.001), and phase angle (p=0.008). Significant post-hoc pairwise comparisons were initially seen between the control and other reference compression tests for stiffness and modulus after the shear DOFs, however, no significant differences were present after the final reference compression test compared to control. More pronounced effects were seen for stiffness in comparison to modulus and phase angle. These effects may be due to three potentials factors, which include the sequence of testing, the cohort of degenerative specimens, and/or cumulative creep due to the constant application of a follower load. While the sequence of test directions was chosen to minimise the biphasic effect, there may be other sequences, which could result in minimal changes in compressive properties.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS): structured literature review and physician insights

OBJECTIVES

To understand the key characteristics of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome (ACOS) and to identify evidence gaps relating to the identification, treatment and management of ACOS patients.

METHODS

A structured literature review and 1-hour telephone interviews with specialist respiratory physicians were conducted (n=10; China, France, Germany, Japan and the USA).

RESULTS

All 10 physicians used the term ACOS in clinical practice. ACOS was not clearly defined in the literature. Prevalence of ACOS among adult patients with COPD or asthma ranged from 12-55%. ACOS patients had severe disease, with increased exacerbations and hospitalisations compared to some asthma and COPD patients. ACOS represented a clinical challenge due to a lack of evidence-based guidelines distinguishing between asthma, COPD and ACOS. Published data quantifying ACOS costs were limited.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need for consensus evidence-based guidance to facilitate earlier diagnosis and to optimise the management of ACOS patients.

Pharmacokinetic study of isatin in dog plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

AIM

A sensitive and selective method was developed and validated to study the pharmacokinetics of isatin.

METHODS

The blood samples were pretreated by protein precipitation method using methanol. Quetiapine was used as an internal standard. After pretreatment, the samples were assayed by LC/MS/MS method and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by WinNonlin 5.2 using non-compartment model. The separation was performed on a Venusil XBP PH column (5 µm, 2.0×100 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (containing 50 mM ammonium formate) (65:35, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The Agilent G6410B triple quadrupole LC/MS system was operated under the multiple reactions monitoring mode (MRM) using the electrospray ionization technique in positive mode.

RESULTS

The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) of the analyte of the method was 10 ng/mL. The method was linear with correlation coefficient >0.995. The intraday and interday accuracy and precision of the assay were acceptable.

CONCLUSION

This method has been applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving the oral and intravenous administration of isatin to beagle dogs.

Pharmacokinetics and dose recommendations for cyclosporine and tacrolimus when coadministered with ABT-450, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir

ABT-450, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir are direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) that have been developed for combination treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Because these DAAs have metabolic and transporter profiles that overlap with cyclosporine and tacrolimus disposition, there is potential for drug interactions. Two Phase 1 studies assessed effects of ABT-450 (150 mg coadministered with ritonavir 100 mg once daily), ombitasvir (25 mg once daily), and dasabuvir (400 mg twice daily) on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single dose of cyclosporine (30 mg) or tacrolimus (2 mg) in healthy volunteers (N = 12 per study). In the presence of steady-state concentrations of all 3 DAAs, dose-normalized cyclosporine concentration at 24 hours (C₂₄), and area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC(∞)) were 15.8-fold and 5.8-fold, respectively, and dose-normalized tacrolimus C₂₄ and AUC(∞) were 17-fold and 57-fold, respectively, of either agent alone. Cyclosporine and tacrolimus half-lives increased from 7 to 25 h and 32 to 232 h, respectively. There were no major safety or tolerability issues in these studies. The results suggest that cyclosporine and tacrolimus doses and dosing frequency should be reduced in HCV-infected posttransplant patients being treated with this 3-DAA regimen.

A genome-wide association study of anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex and heritable eating disorder characterized by dangerously low body weight. Neither candidate gene studies nor an initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) have yielded significant and replicated results. We performed a GWAS in 2907 cases with AN from 14 countries (15 sites) and 14 860 ancestrally matched controls as part of the Genetic Consortium for AN (GCAN) and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 3 (WTCCC3). Individual association analyses were conducted in each stratum and meta-analyzed across all 15 discovery data sets. Seventy-six (72 independent) single nucleotide polymorphisms were taken forward for in silico (two data sets) or de novo (13 data sets) replication genotyping in 2677 independent AN cases and 8629 European ancestry controls along with 458 AN cases and 421 controls from Japan. The final global meta-analysis across discovery and replication data sets comprised 5551 AN cases and 21 080 controls. AN subtype analyses (1606 AN restricting; 1445 AN binge-purge) were performed. No findings reached genome-wide significance. Two intronic variants were suggestively associated: rs9839776 (P=3.01 × 10(-7)) in SOX2OT and rs17030795 (P=5.84 × 10(-6)) in PPP3CA. Two additional signals were specific to Europeans: rs1523921 (P=5.76 × 10(-)(6)) between CUL3 and FAM124B and rs1886797 (P=8.05 × 10(-)(6)) near SPATA13. Comparing discovery with replication results, 76% of the effects were in the same direction, an observation highly unlikely to be due to chance (P=4 × 10(-6)), strongly suggesting that true findings exist but our sample, the largest yet reported, was underpowered for their detection. The accrual of large genotyped AN case-control samples should be an immediate priority for the field.

Adaptive velocity-based six degree of freedom load control for real-time unconstrained biomechanical testing

Robotic biomechanics is a powerful tool for further developing our understanding of biological joints, tissues and their repair. Both velocity-based and hybrid force control methods have been applied to biomechanics but the complex and non-linear properties of joints have limited these to slow or stepwise loading, which may not capture the real-time behaviour of joints. This paper presents a novel force control scheme combining stiffness and velocity based methods aimed at achieving six degree of freedom unconstrained force control at physiological loading rates.

The HLA locus contains novel foetal susceptibility alleles for congenital heart block with significant paternal influence

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this study was to identify foetal susceptibility genes on chromosome six for Ro/SSA autoantibody-mediated congenital heart block.

SUBJECTS AND DESIGN

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of individuals in the Swedish Congenital Heart Block (CHB) study population was performed. Low-resolution HLA-A, -Cw and -DRB1 allele typing was carried out in 86 families comprising 339 individuals (86 Ro/SSA autoantibody-positive mothers, 71 fathers, 87 CHB index cases and 95 unaffected siblings).

RESULTS

A case-control comparison between index cases and population-based out-of-study controls (n = 1710) revealed association of CHB with 15 SNPs in the 6p21.3 MHC locus at a chromosome-wide significance of P < 2.59 × 10(-6) (OR 2.21-3.12). In a family-based analysis of association of SNP markers as well as distinct MHC class I and II alleles with CHB, HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-Cw*05 variants were significantly more frequently transmitted to affected individuals (P < 0.03 and P < 0.05, respectively), whilst HLA-DRB1*13 and HLA-Cw*06 variants were significantly less often transmitted to affected children (P < 0.04 and P < 0.03). We further observed marked association of increased paternal (but not maternal) HLA-DRB1*04 transmission to affected offspring (P < 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-Cw*05 were identified as novel foetal HLA allele variants that confer susceptibility to CHB in response to Ro/SSA autoantibody exposure, whilst DRB1*13 and Cw*06 emerged as protective alleles. Additionally, we demonstrated a paternal contribution to foetal susceptibility to CHB for the first time.

Evolution of body shape in differently coloured sympatric congeners and allopatric populations of Lake Malawi's rock-dwelling cichlids

The cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi represent one of the most diverse adaptive radiations of vertebrates known. Among the rock-dwelling cichlids (mbuna), closely related sympatric congeners possess similar trophic morphologies (i.e. cranial and jaw structures), defend overlapping or adjacent territories, but can be easily distinguished based on male nuptial coloration. The apparent morphological similarity of congeners, however, leads to an ecological conundrum: theory predicts that ecological competition should lead to competitive exclusion. Hence, we hypothesized that slight, yet significant, ecological differences accompanied the divergence in sexual signals and that the divergence of ecological and sexual traits is correlated. To evaluate this hypothesis, we quantified body shape, a trait of known ecological importance, in populations of Maylandia zebra, a barred, widespread mbuna, and several sympatric nonbarred congeners. We found that the barred populations differ in body shape from their nonbarred sympatric congeners and that the direction of shape differences was consistent across all barred vs. nonbarred comparisons. Barred populations are generally deeper bodied which may be an adaptation to the structurally complex habitat they prefer, whereas the nonbarred species have a more fusiform body shape, which may be adaptive in their more open microhabitat. Furthermore, M. zebra populations sympatric with nonbarred congeners differ from populations where the nonbarred phenotype is absent and occupy less morphospace, indicating potential ecological character displacement. Mitochondrial DNA as well as published AFLP data indicated that the nonbarred populations are not monophyletic and therefore may have evolved multiple times independently. Overall our data suggest that the evolution of coloration and body shape may be coupled as a result of correlational selection. We hypothesize that correlated evolution of sexually selected and ecological traits may have contributed to rapid speciation as well as the maintenance of diversity in one of the most diverse adaptive radiations known.

A polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 alpha confers an increased risk of cervical cancer in a Chinese population

Cervical cancer is a multifactorial disease involving a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. An important role of HIF-1α in cervical cancer carcinogenesis has been studied by multiple researches. We hypothesized that there is a possible association between HIF-1α gene polymorphisms and the risk of cervical cancer in Chinese women. In a case-control study of 518 cervical cancer patients and 553 cancer-free controls, we genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs11549465, rs11549467 and rs2057482) of HIF-1α using the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays and assessed its associations with the cervical cancer risk. Besides, 17 cervical cancer tissues were used to assess the expression of the mature mRNA expression of HIF-1α by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. We found that a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer was associated with the CC genotype of rs2057482 in the 3´-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HIF-1α (odds ratio (OR), 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-1.88), compared with the CT/TT genotypes. Moreover, the carriers of CT/TT genotypes had significantly decreased HIF-1α mRNA expression levels compared to those with CC genotype. No association was observed between the two polymorphisms (rs11549465, rs11549467) and cervical cancer risk. So that, our results provided the first insight into rs2057482 polymorphism of in the 3´-untranslated region of HIF-1α contributed to the risk of cervical cancer in a Chinese population and thus may serve as a reliable predictive factor of cervical cancer.