Equation-of-state measurement of dense plasmas heated with fast protons

Using an ultrafast pulse of mega-electron-volt energy protons accelerated from a laser-irradiated foil, we have heated solid density aluminum plasmas to temperatures in excess of 15 eV. By measuring the temperature and the expansion rate of the heated Al plasma simultaneously and with picosecond time resolution we have found the predictions of the SESAME Livermore equation-of-state (LEOS) tables to be accurate to within 18%, in this dense plasma regime, where there have been few previous experimental measurements.

Chemistry and long-term decomposition of roots of Douglas-fir grown under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and warming conditions

Elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentrations and warming may affect the quality of litters of forest plants and their subsequent decomposition in ecosystems, thereby potentially affecting the global carbon cycle. However, few data on root tissues are available to test this feedback to the atmosphere. In this study, we used fine (diameter < or = 2 mm) and small (2-10 mm) roots of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings that were grown for 4 yr in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment: ambient or elevated (+ 180 ppm) atmospheric CO(2) concentrations, and ambient or elevated (+3.8 degrees C) atmospheric temperature. Exposure to elevated CO(2) significantly increased water-soluble extractives concentration (%WSE), but had little effect on the concentration of N, cellulose, and lignin of roots. Elevated temperature had no effect on substrate quality except for increasing %WSE and decreasing the %lignin content of fine roots. No significant interaction was found between CO(2) and temperature treatments on substrate quality, except for %WSE of the fine roots. Short-term (< or = 9 mo) root decomposition in the field indicated that the roots from the ambient CO(2) and ambient temperature treatment had the slowest rate. However, over a longer period of incubation (9-36 mo) the influence of initial substrate quality on root decomposition diminished. Instead, the location of the field incubation sites exhibited significant control on decomposition. Roots at the warmer, low elevation site decomposed significantly faster than the ones at the cooler, high elevation site. This study indicates that short-term decomposition and long-term responses are not similar. It also suggests that increasing atmospheric CO(2) had little effect on the carbon storage of Douglas-fir old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Clinical and pathological study of Kimura's disease with renal involvement

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to retrospectively analyze the clinical and histological features of 8 Chinese patients with Kimura's disease and renal involvement.

METHODS

Eight male patients with Kimura's disease admitted to Jinling Hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included. The diagnoses were confirmed by lymphoid biopsy. Peripheral blood eosinophil, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphoid cell count and total serum IgE level were examined. Renal biopsy, IL-4 expression cells and IgE-positive cell counts in renal tissue were performed. Follow-up data were recorded in detail.

RESULTS

Six patients were observed with the onset symptoms of subcutaneous mass or enlarged lymph nodes, and the other 2 with edema. Constitutional symptoms included bronchial asthma, enteritis, eczema, neuritis and nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed mesangial proliferation with or without IgA deposition under immunofluorescence (n=6) and membranous nephropathy (n=2). Tubulointerstitial infiltration of eosinophils was found in 6 patients. IL-4-positive cells in renal interstitium were detected in 5 cases. IgE-positive cells were negative in all cases. Fusion of the epithelial foot process was observed under electron microscopy in patients with mesangial proliferation. All patients were sensitive to treatment with systemic prednisone, but 4 patients had a renal or extrarenal relapse after the dose tapered. Three patients who presented with solitary masses and underwent lymphoidectomy or mass excision were free from renal and extrarenal relapse. All patients had normal renal function at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Mesangial proliferation, eosinophilic infiltration and podocyte confusion are prominent histological features of this cohort of patients. Patients are sensitive to prednisone therapy but apt to relapse. Lymphoidectomy can be helpful to prevent relapse.

Regulation of SRF/CArG-dependent gene transcription during chronic partial obstruction of murine small intestine

Intestinal obstructions lead to a variety of motility disorders. Small intestine smooth muscles undergo dramatic phenotypic changes in response to obstruction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Using RT-PCR, ChIP, Re-ChIP, and Western blots, we examined the effect of small bowel mechanical obstruction on smooth muscle gene expression. Obstruction caused a transient hyperplasia, followed by a prolonged hypertrophic response of small intestine smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC), alpha-actin, and gamma-actin expression decreased initially, and then increased as hypertrophy developed. Myocardin expression decreased initially and then increased, while kruppel-like factors (KLF)4 and KLF5 expression increased initially, and then decreased. Serum response factor (SRF) expression decreased initially, and then recovered to sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. SRF binding to smooth muscle MHC and alpha-actin promoters decreased initially, but then increased above sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. Elk-1 binding to smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and alpha-actin promoters increased initially, and then decreased to sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. c-fos expression increased initially, which was associated with increased SRF/Elk-1 binding to the c-fos promoter. The Elk-1 phosphorylation inhibitor U-0126 inhibited the increase in c-fos expression. These findings indicate a dynamic response of small intestine smooth muscles to bowel obstruction involving switching between differentiated, proliferative, and hypertrophic phenotypes. These results suggest that changes in the expression and interactions between SRF, myocardin, Elk-1, and c-fos play key roles in the phenotypic switching of small intestine smooth muscles in response to mechanical obstruction.

Genomic characterizations of bat coronaviruses (1A, 1B and HKU8) and evidence for co-infections in Miniopterus bats

We previously reported the detection of bat coronaviruses (bat CoVs 1A, 1B, HKU7, HKU8 and bat-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) in Miniopterus spp. that cohabit a cave in Hong Kong. Here, we report the full genomic sequences of bat CoVs 1A, 1B and HKU8. Bat CoVs 1A and 1B, which are commonly found in the Miniopterus, are phylogenetically closely related. Using species-specific RT-PCR assays, bat CoVs 1A and 1B were confirmed to have distinct host specificities to Miniopterus magnater and Miniopterus pusillus, respectively. Interestingly, co-infections of bat CoVs 1B and HKU8 in M. pusillus are detected in seven of 38 virus-positive specimens collected from 2004 to 2006. These findings highlight that co-infections of some coronaviruses might be common events in nature. The biological basis for the host restriction of bat coronaviruses, however, is yet to be determined.

Investigation of the 2p_{32}-3d_{52} line emission of Au;{53+}-Au;{69+} for diagnosing high energy density plasmas

Measurements of the L -shell emission of highly charged gold ions were made under controlled laboratory conditions using the SuperEBIT electron beam ion trap, allowing detailed spectral observations of lines from Fe-like Au53+ through Ne-like Au69+ . Using atomic data from the Flexible Atomic Code, we have identified strong 3d_{52}-->2p_{32} emission features that can be used to diagnose the charge state distribution in high energy density plasmas, such as those found in the laser entrance hole of hot hohlraum radiation sources. We provide collisional-radiative calculations of the average ion charge Z as a function of temperature and density, which can be used to relate charge state distributions inferred from 3d_{52}-->2p_{32} emission features to plasma conditions, and investigate the effects of plasma density on calculated L -shell Au emission spectra.

Superconductivity at 43 K in SmFeAsO1-xFx

Since the discovery of high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductivity in layered copper oxides, extensive effort has been devoted to exploring the origins of this phenomenon. A T(c) higher than 40 K (about the theoretical maximum predicted from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory), however, has been obtained only in the copper oxide superconductors. The highest reported value for non-copper-oxide bulk superconductivity is T(c) = 39 K in MgB(2) (ref. 2). The layered rare-earth metal oxypnictides LnOFeAs (where Ln is La-Nd, Sm and Gd) are now attracting attention following the discovery of superconductivity at 26 K in the iron-based LaO(1-x)F(x)FeAs (ref. 3). Here we report the discovery of bulk superconductivity in the related compound SmFeAsO(1-x)F(x), which has a ZrCuSiAs-type structure. Resistivity and magnetization measurements reveal a transition temperature as high as 43 K. This provides a new material base for studying the origin of high-temperature superconductivity.

Computational model of airflow in upper 17 generations of human respiratory tract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of airflow in a digital reference model of the 17-generation airway (bronchial tree) were accomplished using the FLUENT computational code, based on the anatomical model by Schmidt et al. [2004. A digital reference model of the human bronchial tree. Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics 28, 203-211]. The lung model consists of 6.744 x 10(6) unstructured tetrahedral computational cells. A steady-state airflow rate of 28.3L/min was used to simulate the transient turbulent flow regime using a large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model. This CFD mesh represents the anatomically realistic asymmetrical branching pattern of the larger airways. It is demonstrated that the nature of the secondary vortical flows, which develop in such asymmetric airways, varies with the specific anatomical characteristics of the branching conduits.

Association of misconceptions about HIV transmission and discriminatory attitudes in rural China

This study examined HIV-related knowledge and attitudes among 524 randomly selected adult residents from 12 rural Chinese communities where HIV infection among plasma donors has been reported. Most participants were familiar with the main routes of HIV transmission but had substantial misconceptions about risk of HIV transmission through casual social contacts. Higher score of misconception and being older and married independently predicted stronger discriminatory attitude. Intervention programs with focus on eliminating misconceptions about HIV transmission may reduce stigma.

Regulation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 by progesterone and its impact on labetalol elimination

The authors recently reported the increased oral clearance of labetalol in pregnant women. To elucidate the mechanism of the elevated oral clearance, it was hypothesized that female hormones, at the high concentrations attainable during pregnancy, enhance hepatic metabolism of labetalol. Labetalol glucuronidation, which is the major elimination pathway of labetalol, was characterized by screening six recombinant human UGTs (UGT1A1, 1A4, 1A6, 1A9, 2B4, and 2B7) for their capacity to catalyse labetalol glucuronidation. The effect of female hormones (progesterone, oestradiol, oestriol, or oestrone) on the promoter activities of relevant UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) was investigated using a luciferase reporter assay in HepG2 cells. The involvement of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) was examined by co-transfecting ERalpha- or PXR-constructs. UGT1A1 and UGT2B7 were identified as the major UGT enzymes producing labetalol glucuronides (trace amount of glucuronide conjugate was formed by UGT1A9). The activities of the UGT1A1 promoter containing PXR response elements were enhanced by progesterone, but not by oestrogens, indicating PXR-mediated induction of UGT1A1 promoter activity by progesterone. Results from semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are consistent with the above findings. This effect of progesterone on UGT1A1 promoter activities was concentration dependent. Promoter activities of UGT2B7 were not affected by either oestrogens or progesterone. The results suggest a potential role for progesterone in regulating labetalol elimination by modulating the expression of UGT1A1, leading to enhanced drug metabolism during pregnancy.

Expression of claudin-2 in the multistage process of gastric carcinogenesis

OBJECTIVE

Claudin-2 is an important component of the tight junction (TJ) of epithelial cells, and its protein expression between many tumours is significantly different. It is unclear if Claudin-2 overexpression is a trigger or a consequence during carcinogenesis. The multistage tissues of gastric carcinogenesis provides us a valuable model for determining tumourigenicity.

METHODS

This paper investigated, for the first time, claudin-2 expression in the pathological paraffin tissues of sinus ventriculi from gastroscopic biopsy. To determine claudin-2 expression in gastric carcinogenesis by immunochemical ABC technique.

RESULTS

Altogether, 108 chronic superficial gastritis, 55 chronic atrophic gastritis, 109 intestinal-type metaplasia, 93 dysplasia and 52 gastric intestinal-type adenocarcinoma samples were analyzed. Results indicated that the percentage of claudin-2-positive cases was 0% for chronic superficial gastritis (0/108), 0% for chronic atrophic gastritis (0/55), 0% for intestinal-type metaplasia (0/109), 35.87% for dysplasia (33/92), and 73.47% for gastric intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (36/49) respectively, primarily in the cell membrane, and gradually increased in the multistage process of gastric carcinogenesis (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests that claudin-2 protein overexpression may be closely correlated to gastric carcinogenesis.

Identification of the progenitors of Indonesian and Vietnamese avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses from southern China

The transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus to Southeast Asian countries triggered the first major outbreak and transmission wave in late 2003, accelerating the pandemic threat to the world. Due to the lack of influenza surveillance prior to these outbreaks, the genetic diversity and the transmission pathways of H5N1 viruses from this period remain undefined. To determine the possible source of the wave 1 H5N1 viruses, we recently conducted further sequencing and analysis of samples collected in live-poultry markets from Guangdong, Hunan, and Yunnan in southern China from 2001 to 2004. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of 73 H5N1 isolates from this period revealed a greater genetic diversity in southern China than previously reported. Moreover, results show that eight viruses isolated from Yunnan in 2002 and 2003 were most closely related to the clade 1 virus sublineage from Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, while two viruses from Hunan in 2002 and 2003 were most closely related to viruses from Indonesia (clade 2.1). Further phylogenetic analyses of the six internal genes showed that all 10 of those viruses maintained similar phylogenetic relationships as the surface genes. The 10 progenitor viruses were genotype Z and shared high similarity (>/=99%) with their corresponding descendant viruses in most gene segments. These results suggest a direct transmission link for H5N1 viruses between Yunnan and Vietnam and also between Hunan and Indonesia during 2002 and 2003. Poultry trade may be responsible for virus introduction to Vietnam, while the transmission route from Hunan to Indonesia remains unclear.