ETSON views on R&D priorities for implementation of the 2014 Euratom Directive on safety of nuclear installations

Following the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in 2011, the Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom has reinforced the previous 2009 Directive that had established a Community framework for the safety of nuclear installations. In particular, one new article introduces a high-level EU-wide safety objective of preventing accidents through defence-in-depth and avoiding radioactive releases outside a nuclear installation. For achieving this objective, the research necessary outcomes are mainly a better knowledge of the involved physical phenomena and its capitalization in methodologies and tools such as simulation codes. ETSON, the European Technical Safety Organisation Network, had already identified in its Position Paper in 2011 the main R&D priorities. The present paper underlines that most of these priorities, with a few updates due to progress of knowledge, remain consistent with the objectives of this new Directive. And it illustrates the ETSON involvement through examples of on-going or planned R&D national and international projects.

Reactor decay heat in 239Pu: solving the γ discrepancy in the 4-3000-s cooling period

The β feeding probability of (102,104,105,106,107)Tc, 105Mo, and 101Nb nuclei, which are important contributors to the decay heat in nuclear reactors, has been measured using the total absorption technique. We have coupled for the first time a total absorption spectrometer to a Penning trap in order to obtain sources of very high isobaric purity. Our results solve a significant part of a long-standing discrepancy in the γ component of the decay heat for 239Pu in the 4-3000 s range.

Altered expression of p120catenin predicts poor outcome in invasive breast cancer

PURPOSE

The study focuses on p120catenin, a regulator of cell adhesion, which has previously been described in many malignancies and suggested with a role in invasion and metastatic behaviour. In this study, we investigate the role of altered immunoexpression of p120catenin isoforms in the prognosis of invasive breast cancer (n = 351).

METHODS

We used cDNA microarrays to screen differences in gene expression in invasive breast cancer in general, and between local and metastasized disease particularly. On this basis, we performed p120catenin immunohistochemistry in order to confirm the prognostic value of p120catenin isoforms on tissue microarrays comprising 341 patients from the era of mammographic screening, directed to modern surgical and oncological treatments, and followed-up for maximum of 20 years.

RESULTS

In cDNA microarray analysis, p120catenin was discovered down-regulated along with E-cadherin and alpha-catenin. In addition, p120catenin distinguished metastasized breast cancer from local disease. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the value of p120catenin as an independent prognosticator of breast cancer survival. In our results, p120catenin was associated with 3.7-fold risk of breast cancer death in multivariate Cox's regression analyses adjusted for the established prognosticators of breast cancer (p = 0.039). Particularly, the long isoform of p120catenin predicted metastatic disease (p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

The present paper is the first report on p120catenin in invasive breast cancer based on a well-characterized patient material with long-term follow-up. We observed altered expression of p120catenin isoforms in invasive breast cancer and, in our material, the decrease in p120 immunoexpression was significantly associated with poor outcome of disease.

Early gastric cancer: clinical characteristics and results of surgery

BACKGROUND

Early gastric cancer (EGC) is associated with better prognosis than advanced cancer of the stomach. Unfortunately, EGC accounts for a minority of operated gastric cancers in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of EGC and the outcome after surgery.

METHODS

The study group comprised 94 EGC patients having undergone surgery at Helsinki University Central Hospital between April 1983 and July 2007.

RESULTS

The overall 5-year survival rate of EGC patients was 92.4%. Tumor location in the upper part of the stomach and mixed histological type impaired the prognosis (p = 0.043 and 0.008, respectively). The probability of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher when the tumor infiltrated gastric submucosa rather than mucosa (p = 0.012). Existence of lymph node or distant metastases decreased the survival rates (both p < 0.001). Total gastrectomy, pancreatic resection, and extended D2 lymph node dissection increased the complication rate, but did not have effect on survival.

CONCLUSION

The overall prognosis of EGC is favorable. The survival rates of EGC decreased when the tumor was located in the upper part of the stomach or was of mixed histological type, or the patient had lymph node or distant metastasis.

Complement and c4 null alleles in severe chronic adult periodontitis

Severe forms of chronic periodontitis affect up to 10% of adults. Tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin-alpha genes in the major histocompatibility complex are associated with severe periodontitis. Complement factor C4 is a nearby, polymorphic, functionally relevant gene region. Although associated with chronic mucosal infections, C4 deficiencies have not been assessed in adult periodontitis patients. We tested whether complement levels are systemically altered and C4 deficiencies associated with severe chronic periodontitis. In a case-control study, we analysed levels of plasma C3, and C4, serum classical pathway haemolytic activity, C4 allotypes and C4 gene numbers in 37 patients with severe chronic periodontitis and in 150 voluntary controls. Plasma levels of C3 were higher, and classical pathway haemolytic activity was lower in patients than in controls. Partial C4 gene deficiencies were more frequent in patients than in controls (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.5, P = 0.032). Changes in complement levels may reflect chronic, recurring inflammation. C4 gene deficiencies are associated with predisposition to chronic periodontitis.

First precision mass measurements of refractory fission fragments

Atomic masses of 95-100Sr, 98-105Zr, and [corrected] 102-110Mo and have been measured with a precision of 10 keV employing a Penning trap setup at the IGISOL facility. Masses of 104,105Zr and 109,110Mo are measured for the first time. Our improved results indicate significant deviations from the previously published values deduced from beta end point measurements. The most neutron-rich studied isotopes are found to be significantly less bound (1 MeV) compared to the 2003 atomic mass evaluation. A strong correlation between nuclear deformation and the binding energy is observed in the two-neutron separation energy in all studied isotope chains.

Function-blocking antibodies to human vascular adhesion protein-1: a potential anti-inflammatory therapy

Human vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a homodimeric 170-kDa sialoglycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and functions as a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase and as an adhesion molecule. Blockade of VAP-1 has been shown to reduce leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in in vivo and in vitro models, suggesting that VAP-1 is a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapy. In this study we have constructed mouse-human chimeric antibodies by genetic engineering in order to circumvent the potential problems involved in using murine antibodies in man. Our chimeric anti-VAP-1 antibodies, which were designed to lack Fc-dependent effector functions, bound specifically to cell surface-expressed recombinant human VAP-1 and recognized VAP-1 in different cell types in tonsil. Furthermore, the chimeric antibodies prevented leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in vitro and in vivo. Hence, these chimeric antibodies have the potential to be used as a new anti-inflammatory therapy.

Laser spectroscopy of cooled zirconium fission fragments

The first on-line laser spectroscopy of cooled fission fragments is reported. The r ions, produced in uranium fission, were extracted and separated using an ion guide isotope separator. The ions were cooled and bunched for collinear laser spectroscopy by a gas-filled linear Paul trap. New results for nuclear mean-square charge radii, dipole, and quadrupole moments are reported across the N=60 shape change. The mean-square charge radii are found to be almost identical to those of the Sr isotones and previously offered modeling of the radial changes is critically reviewed.

Self-diffusion of (31)Si and (71)Ge in relaxed Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) layers

Self-diffusion of implanted (31)Si and (71)Ge in relaxed Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) layers has been studied in the temperature range 730-950 degrees C by means of a modified radiotracer technique. The temperature dependences of the diffusion coefficients were found to be Arrhenius-type with activation enthalpies of 3.6 eV and 3.5 eV and preexponential factors of 7.5 x 10(-3) m(2) s(-1) and 8.1 x 10(-3) m(2) s(-1) for (31)Si and (71)Ge , respectively. These results suggest that, as in Ge, in Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) both (31)Si and (71)Ge diffuse via a vacancy mechanism. Since in Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) (71)Ge diffuses only slightly faster than (31)Si , in self-diffusion studies on Si-Ge (71)Ge radioisotopes may be used as substitutes for the "uncomfortably" short-lived (31)Si radiotracer atoms.

On-line ion cooling and bunching for collinear laser spectroscopy

A new method has been developed for increasing the sensitivity of collinear laser spectroscopy. The method utilizes an ion-trapping technique in which a continuous low-energy ion beam is cooled and accumulated in a linear Paul trap and subsequently released as a short (10-20 micros) bunch. In collinear laser measurements the signal-to-noise ratio has been improved by a factor of 2 x 10(4), allowing spectroscopic measurements to be made with ion-beam fluxes of approximately 50 ions s(-1). The bunching method has been demonstrated in an on-line isotope shift and hyperfine structure measurement on radioactive (175)Hf.

Phthalocyanine 4 photodynamic therapy-induced apoptosis of mouse L5178Y-R cells results from a delayed but extensive release of cytochrome c from mitochondria

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) activates the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, for which the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol is considered critical. To further elucidate the role of cytochrome c release in PDT-induced apoptosis, we monitored cytochrome c localization immunocytochemically and related it to nuclear apoptosis of the same cells. When mouse L5178Y-R cells were treated with 300 nM phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 and 0-75 mJ/cm(2) red light, cytochrome c release had a dose response similar to that of clonogenic cell killing, with nearly identical threshold doses. Within individual cells, the release of cytochrome c appeared to be an all-or-none phenomenon. Moreover, it was tightly associated with activation of a caspase-3-like protease and changes in nuclear morphology. Thus, in response to Pc 4-PDT, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is a key determinant of apoptotic cell death.

Effect of cigarette smoking on oral elastase activity in adult periodontitis patients

BACKGROUND

We have previously reported that elastase activity in oral fluids is significantly increased in most adult periodontitis patients. In some patients, however, elastase levels remain low despite the presence of deep periodontal pockets. In this study we explored whether or not smoking is related to the unexpected low elastase values in these patients.

METHODS

We determined what proportion of the periodontitis patients that showed low oral elastase values were smokers. Paraffin-stimulated saliva or oral rinse samples (3 ml of water, 30 second rinse) were assayed for elastase activity by incubating with 1 mM succinyl-alanyl-alanyl-valine-p-nitroanilide for 20 hours at 37 degrees C, and the color formation read with a spectrophotometer. Neutrophil numbers were analyzed by staining the cells in the oral rinse smear samples.

RESULTS

In 2 patient groups, one in Helsinki, Finland (n = 46) and the other in Vancouver, British Columbia (n = 25), 63% and 83%, respectively, of the adult periodontitis patients who had one or more pockets > or =6 mm and had low oral elastase values (increase of optical density <0.5) were smokers. Non-smoking periodontitis patients had elevated neutrophil numbers compared to healthy subjects, while the smoking patients showed no significant change. Next we analyzed elastase levels in stimulated whole saliva in a group of smokers (n = 300) and those who had quit smoking (n = 102). Smokers had significantly lower oral elastase levels than former smokers in both advanced and moderate periodontitis groups. In this subject group, 56% of all smokers with periodontitis (at least one pocket > or =6 mm) had oral elastase values less than 0.5 U while only 31% of those patients who had quit smoking had low values.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette smoking leads to lowered elastase and neutrophil levels in the oral cavity. The oral neutrophil elastase assay, therefore, cannot be used to measure the periodontal status of smokers.

High prevalence of Kennedy's disease in Western Finland -- is the syndrome underdiagnosed?

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of Kennedy's disease in the Vasa region of Western Finland.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Verification of diagnosis by molecular genetic techniques since 1995.

RESULTS

Within 2 years we have been able to identify a large number of families with this disorder. We have arrived at a point prevalence of Kennedy's disease in the district of Vasa Central Hospital of 13 patients per 85,000 male inhabitants. Assuming an even distribution throughout the country, this would suggest hundreds of patients with this disorder in Finland.

CONCLUSION

Kennedy's disease is the most common motor neuron disorder in the Vasa region, exceeding the prevalence of ALS by a factor of two, and far more common than any of the other motor neuron disorders. The fact that none of our patients, despite previous examinations, had correct diagnoses before 1995, indicates that Kennedy's disease still might be relatively underdiagnosed.

Value of some laboratory and clinical measurements in the treatment plan for advanced periodontitis

In our previous study, we reported that only 13 of 46 adult patients with advanced periodontitis responded well to initial non-surgical periodontal therapy. In the present follow-up study, the remaining 33 patients were randomly treated further using either modified Widman flap surgery or systemic metronidazole. The patients responding unsatisfactorily to this 2nd treatment phase, received supplementary systemic chemotherapy or surgery, respectively. By using this study design, we determined which baseline clinical variables and/or laboratory findings predicted the treatment outcome in these study patients. Clinical variables included the assessment of bleeding, suppuration, probing pocket depth, furcation lesions, relative attachment level and radiographic infrabony defects. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were cultured from subgingival plaque samples. The specific IgG and IgA antibody levels against 5 serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans were determined in serum and saliva. Elastase-like, trypsin-like and general protease activities were assessed from saliva. The bivariate statistical analyses showed that the most pronounced difference between the patients responding well to initial non-surgical therapy (group MC, n = 13), to either supplementary surgery or chemotherapy (group FT1, n = 11), or those responding to the complex therapy (group FT2, n = 17), was the prior extent of periodontal destruction expressed as the proportion of > or = 6 mm deep periodontal pockets. When multiple linear regression was used to investigate the influence of clinical and laboratory findings on the variation of treatment response between the 3 groups, the most significant explanatory factor was the simultaneous presence of subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans and multiple deep periodontal pockets. None of the immunological or biochemical variables used had any further influence in the model. Pretreatment microbiological examination, especially for the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans, seems to be a valuable laboratory screening method for identifying complex treatment need in adult patients with advanced periodontitis. However, the evaluation of the extent and pattern of periodontal breakdown remains crucial for choosing the treatment strategy including surgery and/or chemotherapy in A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected adult periodontitis patients.

Oral fluid elastase as an indicator of periodontal health

The study was designed to find out whether oral elastase activity could be used as a simple biochemical indicator of periodontal health. Both stimulated whole saliva and water rinse samples were collected from subjects with different degrees of adult periodontitis, gingivitis or healthy periodontium. In both sample types, elastase was mostly bound to insoluble fraction and preferred valine containing synthetic substrate, similar to neutrophil elastase. The elastase measurement required very little manipulation or time and its reproducibility was found to be good. The elastase levels were found to be negligible in edentulous subjects and usually very low in subjects with healthy periodontium. In about 85% of periodontitis cases having at least 1 deep periodontal pocket ( > or = 6 mm), clearly elevated elastases levels were detected in both the saliva and r rinse samples. In advanced periodontitis cases, the colour reaction took place in 0.5 to 2 h. In localized periodontitis cases, 2- to 18-h incubations were required for positive reaction. There was a good correlation between the elastase activity and the number of deep periodontal pockets and the average community periodontal index of the subjects. Elastase activity was not a good indicator of gingivitis. About 45% of gingivitis cases were positive with the elastase test, and the enzyme values were not significantly increased in experimental gingivitis. In a longitudinal study on advanced periodontitis cases, elastase levels dropped dramatically as a result of clinically successful therapy, close to the values of healthy subjects. The oral elastase test could serve as a valuable adjunct in periodontal screening and assessment of treatment efficacy.

Prognostic criteria for the efficiency of non-surgical periodontal therapy in advanced periodontitis

The aim of the study was to find out which clinical, radiographic and microbiological variables can be used as prognostic criteria for the efficiency of the commonly used initial treatment protocol comprising scaling, root planning and instruction on oral hygiene in advanced adult periodontitis. 46 patients (mean age 48 years) with untreated, advanced periodontitis volunteered for the study. The clinical examination included recordings of plaque, gingival and calculus indices, probing pocket depths, bleeding and suppuration after probing, probing attachment levels and furcation involvements. Infrabony and furcation lesions were assessed from panoramic radiographs. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were cultured from the deepest, most inflamed periodontal Pockets, from surface of the tongue and from saliva. 3 months after the completion of non-surgical treatment comprising meticulous scaling and root planing and instruction on oral hygiene, the healing was assessed clinically, and 13 patients were assigned to a maintenance care programme (MC) and 33 to further treatment procedures (FT). Evaluation of the baseline clinical and radiographic data showed a significantly higher %s of > or = 6 mm deep periodontal pockets, surfaces with suppuration, and sites with subgingival calculus, as well as higher numbers of infrabony lesions, in FT-patients than in MC-patients. Subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated at baseline in 55% of the FT-patients and in 38% of the MC-patients, and P. gingivalis in 27% and 23%, respectively. A. actinomycetemcomitans was eradicated by non-surgical treatment from only one patient. P. gingivalis was detected in 15% of the patients in both groups after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Specific antibodies against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in serum and saliva of patients with advanced periodontitis

The aim of the present study was to discover any possible correlation between specific antibodies against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) in serum and saliva. The test group consisted of 38 patients aged 31-68 yr (mean 49) with advanced periodontitis. Twenty-nine subjects aged 23-67 yr, without periodontal destruction, formed a control group with a reference level of specific salivary antibodies against A.a. A subgingival plaque sample for culturing A.a., a specimen of stimulated whole saliva, and a sample of venous blood were taken from each subject of the test group. Specific IgG and IgA antibodies against A.a. were determined from serum and stimulated whole saliva by means of the ELISA test. Fifteen of the patients (39%) had cultivable A.a. Six of the 15 A.a. culture-positive patients and one of the 29 reference subjects exhibited very high antibody titers against A.a. in saliva. Specific IgG and IgA antibodies in saliva correlated highly significantly with the corresponding antibody values in serum among the patients in the test group. It was concluded that among patients with severe adult periodontitis, the less invasive saliva sample has a diagnostic value equal to that of the serum sample concerning specific antibodies against A.a.

The effect of treatment on the activity of salivary proteases and glycosidases in adults with advanced periodontitis

Enzyme activity in whole saliva of trypsin-like protease, elastase-like protease, general protease, and three glycosidases was measured by colorimetric assays, using synthetic substrates. A study group of 24 adults with advanced periodontitis was compared to a control group of 25 subjects with healthy periodontium. Clinical parameters and levels of enzyme activity were assessed at baseline, after non-surgical periodontal therapy (at 8 months), following the maintenance phase or periodontal surgery (at 15 months), and after the maintenance phase with or without systemic chemotherapy (at 20 months). The mean values of the proteolytic enzymatic activity and the activity of two glycosidases in whole saliva were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group at baseline. After the initial treatment phase at 8 months, all three proteases were reduced significantly, but the glycosidases were still high. After all treatment phases at 20 months, the activity of both the proteases and glycosidases approximated the values of the healthy group. In the saliva samples collected prior to treatment and following non-surgical periodontal therapy, the activity of salivary elastase correlated significantly with the number of deep gingival pockets (PD > or = 6 mm) and with either gingival index (GI) or the percentage of bleeding sites (BOP%). The enzyme activity in whole saliva appears to reflect the status of periodontal health. Salivary elastase shows good potential to serve as a novel adjunct to detect destructive periodontal inflammation and to follow periodontal healing after treatment.

Optimal dosage of chlorhexidine acetate in chewing gum

In a previous study, 800 mg pieces of sorbitol-flavored gum, each piece containing 5 mg chlorhexidine (CHX) acetate, when chewed 2 at the time 5 x daily, were found to have an excellent plaque growth inhibiting effect. The aim of Trial 1 of the present study was to assess whether chewing only 2 x daily, 2 pieces of the same concentration CHX gum for about 10 min would be as effective. 6 dental students participated in the 3 x randomly crossed over double-blind clinical trial. During the 5-day chewing periods, no other oral hygiene measures were allowed. The Hibitane Dental (HD) rinse was used as a positive and the gum base containing neither CHX nor the sweetening agent as a negative control. At the end of each test period, recordings were made for the plaque index (PII), the plaque wet weight (PWW) and the relative area of plaque covered tooth surface (plaque area %). Chewing of CHX gum twice daily inhibited plaque growth as effectively as the HD rinse. The aim of Trial 2 was to assess the antiplaque effect of lower concentration CHX gums with, hopefully, a less unpleasant taste. For this trial, 8 dental students were recruited to chew 2 x daily during 6-day periods two 800 mg pieces of sorbitol-flavored gum, each piece now containing either 5 mg, 4 mg or 3 mg CHX acetate. The effect of these dosages did not differ from the effect of the HD rinse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new class of detail-preserving filters for image processing

A new class of median type filters for image processing is proposed. In the filters, linear FIR substructures are used in conjunction with the median operation. The root signals and noise attenuation properties of the FIR-median hybrid filters are analyzed and compared to representative edge preserving filtering operations. The concept of multilevel median operation is introduced to improve the detail preserving property of conventional median and the FIR-median hybrid filters. In the multilevel filters there exists a tradeoff between noise attenuation and detail preservation. The analysis and examples indicate that FIR-median hybrid filters preserve details better and are computationally much more efficient than the conventional median and the K-nearest neighbor averaging filters.