Two-color gauge theory with novel infrared behavior

Using lattice simulations, we study the infrared behavior of a particularly interesting SU(2) gauge theory, with six massless Dirac fermions in the fundamental representation. We compute the running gauge coupling derived nonperturbatively from the Schrödinger functional of the theory, finding no evidence for an infrared fixed point up through gauge couplings g(2) of order 20. This implies that the theory either is governed in the infrared by a fixed point of considerable strength, unseen so far in nonsupersymmetric gauge theories, or breaks its global chiral symmetries producing a large number of composite Nambu-Goldstone bosons relative to the number of underlying degrees of freedom. Thus either of these phases exhibits novel behavior.

Efficacy and safety of entecavir treatment in a heterogeneous CHB population from a ‘real-world’ clinical practice setting in China

Chronic hepatitis B infection is an important cause of liver-related mortality in China. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of entecavir in a heterogeneous patient population from a ‘real-world’ clinical practice setting in China. This prospective, observational cohort provides 48-week data on 2600 patients from 50 sites in China who received entecavir (0.5 or 1.0 mg) and were assessed for virologic, serologic and biochemical responses. Patients were nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve or -experienced and had compensated or decompensated liver function. At Week 48, 1545/2424 (64%) patients with compensated liver disease and 30/44 (68%) patients with decompensated liver disease achieved HBV DNA<50 IU/mL. Greater proportions of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve than nucleos(t)ide-experienced (69% vs 53%), and adefovir-experienced than lamivudine/ telbivudine-experienced (62% vs 52%) patients achieved this endpoint. Most patients with HBV DNA<50 IU/mL also achieved HBV DNA<12 IU/L (60%, 45% and 61% of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve, nucleos(t)ide-experienced and decompensated patients, respectively). In patients with compensated liver disease, ALT values normalized in 1532/1792 patients (85%), and HBeAg loss and HBeAg seroconversion were observed in 17% and 15% of treatment-na€ıve and 15% and 11% of treatment-experienced patients. Entecavir was generally well tolerated. Adverse event rates were comparable between treatment-na€ıve and treatment-experienced patients with compensated liver disease, but were higher in decompensated than in compensated patients, consistent with previous reports in these patients with more advanced disease. Four patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. In a ‘real-world’ setting, entecavir was efficacious and well tolerated throughout 48 weeks in a heterogeneous Chinese CHB population.

PAK4 kinase-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation involved in gastric cancer metastasis

Superior cervical ganglia 10 (SCG10), as a microtubule (MT) destabilizer, maintains MT homeostasis and has a critical role in neuronal development, but its function in tumorigenesis has not been characterized. In the present study, we demonstrated that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4)-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation regulates MT homeostasis in metastatic gastric cancer. Our results indicate that SCG10 is a physiological substrate of PAK4, which is phosphorylated on serine 50 (Ser50) in a PAK4-dependent manner. Phosphorylated SCG10 regulated MT dynamics to promote gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in a xenograft mouse models. Inhibiting PAK4, either by LCH-7749944 or RNA interference, resulted in the inhibition of Ser50 phosphorylation and a blockade to cell invasion, suggesting that PAK4-SCG10 signaling occurs in gastric cancer cell invasion. Moreover, we demonstrated a strong positive correlation between PAK4 and phospho-Ser50 SCG10 expression in gastric cancer samples. We also showed that high expression of SCG10 phospho-Ser50 is highly correlated to an aggressive phenotype of clinical gastric cancer. These findings revealed a novel function of SCG10 in promoting invasive potential of gastric cancer cells, suggesting that blocking PAK4-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation might be a potential therapeutic strategy for metastasis of gastric cancer.

Improved electroporation buffer enhances transient gene expression in Arachis hypogaea protoplasts

An electroporation medium containing 50 mM glycine or 10 mM glycylglycine (glygly), 70 mM potassium glutamate, and 0.4 M mannitol was evaluated for its ability to improve transient &beta;-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in immature cotyledonary protoplasts of Arachis hypogaea L. GUS activity in electroporated protoplasts was 8- to 430-fold greater than that obtained using any of other four commonly employed poration media. Analysis of viability and histochemical staining of protoplasts indicated that electroporation using the glycine- or glygly-based poration medium resulted in increased protoplast viability and GUS expression when compared with other poration media. Replacement of glygly with MES or HEPES buffers significantly reduced the level of GUS expression in electroporated protoplasts.

Protective role of Shenfu on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver grafts

AIMS

We sought to investigate the protective role of Shenfu (SF),a traditional Chinese formulation comprising Radix Ginseng and Radix Aconitum Carmichaeli on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat liver grafts.

METHODS

Ninety-six male Sprague Dawley rats were used as donors (n = 48) and recipients (n = 48) of orthotopic liver transplantation. They were randomly divided into a control group with donor livers injected with saline through the portal vein immediately after recovery versus the SF group, with livers injected with SF. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups equally to obtain bood and hepatic tissues samples at 2, 4, and 6 hours reperfusion.

RESULTS

At each phase, the SF group, showed significantly higher bile production (P < .05) with lower serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor-κB expression in the hepatic tissues. (P < .05). SF group hepatic tissues showed less injury compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

SF injection seemed to protect hepatocytes from injury during the early reperfusion phase and to improve subsequent rat liver graft function.

Molecular Characterization of Stolbur Group Subgroup E (16SrXII-E) Phytoplasma Associated with Potatoes in China

Phytoplasmas have been reported from more than 70 plant species in China, most of which are from woody plants and very few are from potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). During the growing seasons of 2005 through 2011, potato disease surveys were conducted in seed and commercial fields in Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia. Potato plants displayed symptoms of curled, yellowish and purplish leaves, shortened internodes, aerial tuber formation, and few small malformed underground tubers. Although the location of the fields surveyed each year varied, the disease seems to have become increasingly prevalent. In Yunnan, disease incidence was 5 to 24% in 2005 and 15 to 100% in 2010 and 2011. In Inner Mongolia, disease incidence in seed potato fields was 5 to 15% in 2006 and 25 to 50% in 2011. Total DNA was extracted from the leaves, stems, and roots of symptomatic and asymptomatic plants with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer's instruction. A nested PCR was performed by using primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 to detect the presence of phytoplasmas (1,3). An approximate 1.25-kb PCR product was amplified from symptomatic plants but not from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed by digesting the 1.2-kb amplicon singly with restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and TaqI. Comparing the RFLP patterns of samples with previously published phytoplasma strains, the phytoplasmas matched patterns of the stolbur group, subgroup E (16SrXII-E) (1). In addition, the PCR product from P1/P7, diluted 1:30, was amplified by using primer pair P1A/P7A (2). The nested PCR product was cloned into pCR8/GW/TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced by the Core Lab of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and GENEWIZ (South Plainfield, NJ). Nucleotide sequences (GenBank Accession No. EU293841) were analyzed by iPhyClassifier software (4), confirming the relationship of this phytoplasma to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae' with RFLP patterns identical to group 16SrXII-E. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of the stolbur group phytoplasmas associated with potato disease in China. The potato is becoming increasingly important in China. The impacts of stolbur on potato yield losses, disease distributions, and insect vectors are currently under investigation. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol 54:337, 2004. (3) C. D. Smart et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2988, 1996. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

Abdominal Palpation Haptic Device for Colonoscopy Simulation Using Pneumatic Control

In this paper, we describe the development of a haptic device to be used in a simulator aiming to train the skills of gastroenterology assistants in abdominal palpation during colonoscopy, as well as to train team interaction skills for the colonoscopy team. To understand the haptic feedback forces to be simulated by the haptic device, we conducted an experiment with five participants of varying BMI. The applied forces and displacements were measured and hysteresis modeling was used to characterize the experimental data. These models were used to determine the haptic feedback forces required to simulate a BMI case in response to the real-time user interactions. The pneumatic haptic device consisted of a sphygmomanometer bladder as the haptic interface and a fuzzy controller to regulate the bladder pressure. The haptic device showed good steady state and dynamic response was adequate for simulating haptic interactions. Tracking accuracy averaged 94.2 percent within 300 ms of the reference input while the user was actively applying abdominal palpation and minor repositioning.

Preoperative Lanreotide Treatment Improves Outcome in Patients with Acromegaly Resulting from Invasive Pituitary Macroadenoma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether 3 months' preoperative treatment with lanreotide improved outcome in newly diagnosed patients with acromegaly resulting from invasive pituitary macroadenoma. METHODS: After baseline evaluation, untreated patients were randomized to undergo direct trans-sphenoidal surgery or lanreotide treatment (30 mg via intramuscular injection every 2 weeks, increased to 30 mg/week at week 8 if growth hormone nadir > 2.5 μg/l), for 3 months prior to surgery. Tumour shrinkage following lanreotide treatment was analysed. Cure was evaluated at 3 months postsurgery by measuring growth hormone and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. RESULTS: Preoperative lanreotide treatment significantly reduced mean tumour size. Growth hormone and IGF-1 levels were lower in the pretreatment group than in the direct surgery group at 3 months postsurgery. According to combined growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, significantly more patients were cured by trans-sphenoidal surgery in the pretreatment group compared with the direct surgery group (11 of 24 and five of 25 patients, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Lanreotide treatment for 3 months before trans-sphenoidal surgery effectively reduced tumour size, and improved surgical cure rate, in newly diagnosed patients with acromegaly resulting from invasive pituitary macroadenoma.

Retargeting NK92 cells using an HLA-A2-restricted, EBNA3C-specific chimeric antigen receptor

Advances in adoptive cell immunotherapy have led to several promising options for cancer patients. Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were isolated from a human phage display library by panning on recombinant human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-peptide complexes. A scFv (EBNA Clone 315) specific for HLA-A2 carrying a 10 amino acid peptide (LLDFVRFMGV) derived from the Epstein-Barr virus latent protein EBNA3C was fully characterized. EBNA Clone 315 displayed exquisite specificity toward its targeted T-cell epitope (TCE) and did not cross-react with the free peptide, HLA-A2 complexes, which carried irrelevant peptides, or HLA-A2(-) cells. Furthermore, after engineering into a scFv-Fc fusion protein, we were able to determine its affinity, detection sensitivity, and ability to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). As a proof-of-principle, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) version of EBNA Clone 315 was used to reprogram NK92MI cells. CAR-expressing NK92MI cells showed highly specific and potent cytotoxicity toward the targeted TCE, with detection sensitivity of approximately 25 molecules and cytolytic capacity threefold greater than scFv-Fc-mediated ADCC. For the first time, we show the successful reprogramming of non-T cells toward a specific TCE using a CAR.

First Report of Clover Proliferation Group Phytoplasmas (16SrVI-A) Associated with Purple Top Diseased Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in China

Phytoplasma diseases on potatoes are not well understood and have gone largely undetected in China. During the growing seasons of 2005 through 2010, potato disease surveys were conducted in seed and commercial fields in Yunnan Province. Samples were also harvested from three seed potato production areas in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2007 and 2010. Disease incidence in these fields ranged from 15 to 85%. Plants displayed symptoms of branch proliferation, aerial tuber formation, upward rolling yellowish and purplish apical leaves, and extremely short stolen or chain tubers (irregular-shaped tubers). Total DNA from 250 samples was extracted from the leaves, stems, and roots of symptomatic and asymptomatic plants. A nested PCR was performed by using primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 to detect the presence of phytoplasmas (1,3). An approximate 1.2-kb PCR product was amplified from symptomatic plants but not from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed by digesting the 1.2-kb amplicon singly with restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, MseI, HhaI, HinfI, HpaII, KpnI, RsaI, and TaqI. The RFLP patterns of 120 of the 250 samples matched patterns of the clover proliferation (CP) group (16SrVI) subgroup A (16SrVI-A) phytoplasma (1). In addition, the nested PCR product of P1A/P7A (2) following P1/P7 amplification was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. HQ609490). Nucleotide sequences were analyzed by iPhyClassifier software (4), confirming the relationship of this phytoplasma to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' with RFLP patterns identical to group 16SrVI-A. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the CP group phytoplasmas associated with purple top diseased potatoes in China. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol 54:337, 2004. (3) C. D. Smart et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2988, 1996. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

Parity doubling and the S parameter below the conformal window

We describe a lattice simulation of the masses and decay constants of the lowest-lying vector and axial resonances, and the electroweak S parameter, in an SU(3) gauge theory with N(f)=2 and 6 fermions in the fundamental representation. The spectrum becomes more parity doubled and the S parameter per electroweak doublet decreases when N(f) is increased from 2 to 6, motivating study of these trends as N(f) is increased further, toward the critical value for transition from confinement to infrared conformality.

First Report of Aster Yellows (16SrI-B) Associated with Potatoes in Alaska

During a disease survey conducted in 2009 in Alaska, one potato plant (Solanum tuberosum) with symptoms characteristic of aster yellows, such as apical leaves rolling inward, leaves turning yellow or purple, and presence of aerial tubers, was found in a commercial field. Total DNA was extracted from leaves, stems, and roots of the symptomatic and symptomless plants with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. A nested PCR was carried out with the first round primer pair P1/P7 followed by second round primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (1,3). An approximate 1.2-kb PCR product was amplified from the symptomatic plant, but not symptomless plants. The PCR products from R16F2n/R16R2 were digested using restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, BstUI, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and RsaI. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were compared with those from known phytoplasma strains (1) and they matched the patterns for aster yellows subgroup B (16SrI-B). After P1/P7 amplification, the nested PCR product of primer pair P1A/16S-SR (2) was purified with a MiniElute Gel Extraction kit (Qiagen), sequenced by GENEWIZ (South Plainfield, NJ), and the sequence data analyzed by iPhyClassifier software (4). The results indicated that the sequence (GenBank Accession No. HQ599231) had 99.65% similarity to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' reference strain (GenBank Accession No. M30790). The RFLP similarity was identical (coefficient 1.00) to the reference pattern of 16Sr group I, subgroup B (GenBank Accession No. NC 005303). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular identification of aster yellows phytoplasma associated with potatoes in Alaska. The source of the phytoplasma and pathway of disease transmission is currently under investigation. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:337, 2004. (3) C. D. Smart et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2988, 1996. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

Molecular Characterization of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' Associated with Aster Yellows-Diseased Potatoes in China

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are one of the most important crops in China following rice, wheat, and corn. Aster yellows phytoplasma appeared to be widespread in China; it was found to cause diseases on alfalfa, oranges, peaches, periwinkles, bamboo (1), and cactus (4). However, scant information of this pathogen on potatoes is available except for a few short reports published during the 1950s. During the potato disease surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 in Yunnan and Inner Mongolia, 10 to 35% of potato plants exhibited symptoms of yellowing or purpling of apical leaves, with the top leaves rolling inward and aerial tubers formation. Total DNA was extracted from midveins of leaves and roots of 125 diseased and asymptomatic plants with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. A nested PCR was carried out with the first round primer pair P1/P7 followed by the second round primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (2,3). A PCR product of approximately 1.2 kb was amplified from diseased plants but not from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed by digesting a 1.2-kb product using restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, BstUI, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and RsaI. Comparing the RFLP patterns with previously published phytoplasma strains (2), aster yellows phytoplasma found on potato plants in Yunnan and Inner Mongolia belong to group I, subgroup B (16SrI-B). The PCR product from P1/P7, diluted 1:30, was amplified by using primer pair P1A/P7A (3) and P1A/16S-SR (3). The nested-PCR products from P1A/P7A and P1A/16S-SR were cloned into pCR8/GW/TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced by the Core Lab of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and GENEWIZ (South Plainfield, NJ). The nucleotide sequence (GenBank Accession No. HQ599228) was analyzed by iPhyClassifier software and had 99.53% sequence identity to the reference strain (GenBank Accession No. M30790) for 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris'. The RFLP similarity is identical (coefficient 1.00) to the reference pattern of 16Sr group I, subgroup B (GenBank Accession No. NC_005303). To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing the molecular characteristics of a phytoplasma associated with aster yellows-diseased potatoes in China. References: (1) H. Cai et al. Plant Prot. 31:38, 2005. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:337, 2004. (4) W. Wei et al. Plant Dis. 91:461, 2007.

Intrapericardial pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor. Most cases are intra-adrenal, and intrapericardial pheochromocytomas are extremely rare. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman with a seven-year history of hypertension. The concentration of blood noradrenaline was found to be elevated. Chest computed tomography scan showed a limited bulge in the superior border of the right atrium. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the existence of a tumor. Coronary arteriography detected a mass near the right atrium, which was nourished by an aberrant branch of the right coronary artery. After preoperative preparation, the patient underwent pericardial tumor resection. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient was successfully discharged 20 days later.

Limits and Properties of Size Quantization Effects in InAs Self Assembled Quantum Dots

In this paper we report on the limits and properties of size quantization effects in InAs self assembled quantum dots (QDs). Size, density and character of the InAs islands are investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The electronic and optical properties of the islands in the coherent and dislocated growth regime are studied using capacitance, photoluminescence, photovoltage and photocurrent spectroscopy. In the data measured with the different techniques, the change in dot size and density as well as the transition from coherent to dislocated island growth is clearly observable. An increasing QD size causes a red shift in the energetic position of the QD features while the density of the islands is reflected in the intensity of the QD signal. The decrease in intensity at high InAs coverage is attributed to dislocated island formation.