Measurements of Strong-Interaction Effects in Kaonic-Helium Isotopes at Sub-eV Precision with X-Ray Microcalorimeters

We have measured the 3d→2p transition x rays of kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He atoms using superconducting transition-edge-sensor microcalorimeters with an energy resolution better than 6 eV (FWHM). We determined the energies to be 6224.5±0.4(stat)±0.2(syst)  eV and 6463.7±0.3(stat)±0.1(syst)  eV, and widths to be 2.5±1.0(stat)±0.4(syst)  eV and 1.0±0.6(stat)±0.3(stat)  eV, for kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He, respectively. These values are nearly 10 times more precise than in previous measurements. Our results exclude the large strong-interaction shifts and widths that are suggested by a coupled-channel approach and agree with calculations based on optical-potential models.

Involvement of autophagy in the maintenance of rat intervertebral disc homeostasis: an in-vitro and in-vivo RNA interference study of Atg5

OBJECTIVE

In the largest avascular low-nutrient intervertebral disc, resident cells would utilize autophagy, a stress-response survival mechanism by self-digestion and recycling wastes. Our goal was to elucidate the involvement of autophagy in disc homeostasis through RNA interference of autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5).

DESIGN

In vitro, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting autophagy-essential Atg5 were transfected into rat disc cells. Cell viability with levels of autophagy including Atg5 expression, apoptosis, and senescence was assessed under serum starvation and/or pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) stimulation. In vivo, time-course autophagic flux was monitored following Alexa Fluor® 555-labeled Atg5-siRNA injection into rat tail discs. Furthermore, 24-h temporary static compression-induced disruption of Atg5 siRNA-injected discs was observed by radiography, histomorphology, and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

In disc cells, three different Atg5 siRNAs consistently suppressed autophagy with Atg5 protein knockdown (mean 44.4% [95% confidence interval: -51.7, -37.1], 51.5% [-80.5, -22.5], 62.3% [-96.6, -28.2]). Then, Atg5 knockdown reduced cell viability through apoptosis and senescence not in serum-supplemented medium (93.6% [-0.8, 21.4]) but in serum-deprived medium (66.4% [-29.8, -8.6]) further with IL-1β (44.5% [-36.9, -23.5]). In disc tissues, immunofluorescence detected intradiscal signals for the labeled siRNA even at 56-d post-injection. Immunoblotting found 56-d autophagy suppression with prolonged Atg5 knockdown (33.2% [-52.8, -5.3]). With compression, Atg5 siRNA-injected discs presented radiographic height loss ([-43.9, -0.8]), histological damage ([-5.5, -0.2]), and immunofluorescent apoptosis ([2.2, 22.2]) and senescence ([4.1, 19.9]) induction compared to control siRNA-injected discs at 56 d.

CONCLUSIONS

This loss-of-function study suggests Atg5-dependent autophagy-mediated anti-apoptosis and anti-senescence. Autophagy could be a molecular therapeutic target for degenerative disc disease.

Trigger rejection factor in the first kaonic helium run with the complete SIDDHARTA-2 setup

The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aims to perform the first measurement of the kaonic deuterium 2p → 1s x-ray transition energy. Such measurement, together with the measurement of kaonic hydrogen 2p → 1s x-ray energy transition performed by the SIDDHARTA experiment in 2011, allows the determination of kaon proton and kaon neutron scattering lengths and represents a fundamental input for the low energies QCD in the strangeness sector theory. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is presently installed at the DAΦNE electronpositron collider at the National Laboratories of Frascati, in Italy. In May 2022, the kaonic 4He x-ray transitions measurement was performed by the complete SIDDHARTA-2 setup, by using a gaseous target. The result of this measurement is presented in this paper, with a specific focus on the background rejection performed by the kaon trigger system.

Is GLP-1 insufficiency a coronary risk factor? A multicenter observational study, BOREAS-CAD2

Background and aim

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulates insulin secretion and also affords pleiotropic effects including protective effects on blood vessels. Multiple factors regulate GLP-1 secretion after meals, but a group of apparently healthy subjects showed blunted responses of GLP-1 secretion in our previous study. In this study, we examined the possibility that the reduced capacity of GLP-1 secretion is associated with increased extent of coronary artery stenosis in non-diabetic patients.

Methods and results

Non-diabetic patients who were admitted for coronary angiography without a history of coronary interventions were enrolled. Coronary artery stenosis was quantified by Gensini score (GS), and GS ≥10 was used as an outcome variable based on results of earlier studies indicating its predictive value for cardiovascular events. The patients (mean age, 66.5±8.8 years; 71% males, n=173) underwent oral 75 g-glucose tolerant tests for determination of glucose, insulin and active GLP-1 levels. The area under the curve of plasma active GLP-1 (AUC-GLP-1) was determined as an index of GLP-1 secretion capacity. AUC-GLP-1 was not correlated with fasting glucose, AUC-glucose, serum lipids, indices of insulin sensitivity or estimated glomerular filtration rate. In multivariate logistic regression analysis for GS ≥10, AUC-GLP-1 < median, age and hypertension were selected as explanatory variables, though fasting GLP-1 level was not selected.

Conclusion

The findings indicate significant association of reduced GLP-1 secretion capacity with increased extent of coronary artery stenosis in non-diabetic patients. A causal relationship between change in GLP-1 secretion capacity and coronary stenosis remains to be examined by a longitudinal study

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): This study was supported in part by a research grant from Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp./MSD K.K.

Search for η^{'} Bound Nuclei in the ^{12}C(γ,p) Reaction with Simultaneous Detection of Decay Products

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2  nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.

Beam Energy and Centrality Dependence of Direct-Photon Emission from Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum (0.4<p_{T}<3  GeV/c) direct-photon yields from Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=39 and 62.4 GeV. For both beam energies the direct-photon yields are substantially enhanced with respect to expectations from prompt processes, similar to the yields observed in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200. Analyzing the photon yield as a function of the experimental observable dN_{ch}/dη reveals that the low-momentum (>1  GeV/c) direct-photon yield dN_{γ}^{dir}/dη is a smooth function of dN_{ch}/dη and can be well described as proportional to (dN_{ch}/dη)^{α} with α≈1.25. This scaling behavior holds for a wide range of beam energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider, for centrality selected samples, as well as for different A+A collision systems. At a given beam energy, the scaling also holds for high p_{T} (>5  GeV/c), but when results from different collision energies are compared, an additional sqrt[s_{NN}]-dependent multiplicative factor is needed to describe the integrated-direct-photon yield.

Effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on impaired ventricular repolarization in people with Type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To test the hypothesis that treatment with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor would reverse ventricular repolarization heterogeneity, a predictor of cardiovascular mortality, in people with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed changes in indices of ventricular repolarization before and after treatment with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor in 46 people with Type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment reduced HbA_1c concentration [62±13 mmol/mol (7.7±1.2%) vs 59±16 mmol/mol (7.5±1.4%)], body weight (77.8±13.9 vs 74.7±12.5 kg) and systolic blood pressure (133±18 vs 126±12 mmHg) in the study participants. Heart rate and QTc interval were not changed by sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment, but QTc dispersion was significantly reduced (median, 48.8 vs 44.2 ms). Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment reversed QTc dispersion more in participants who had larger QTc dispersion before the treatment. Changes in systolic blood pressure (Spearman's ρ= 0.319; P=0.031), but not in HbA_1c concentration, were correlated with changes in QTc dispersion after sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment reverses ventricular repolarization heterogeneity in people with Type 2 diabetes, independently of its effect on glycaemic control. The favourable effect on ventricular repolarization heterogeneity could be the mechanism by which empaglifozin reduced cardiovascular events in a recent study.

Surfactant protein D inhibits activation of non-small cell lung cancer-associated mutant EGFR and affects clinical outcomes of patients

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-sensitive and TKI-resistant mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are associated with lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR mutants were previously shown to exhibit ligand-independent activation. We have previously demonstrated that pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D, SFTPD) suppressed wild-type EGFR signaling by blocking ligand binding to EGFR. We herein demonstrate that SFTPD downregulates ligand-independent signaling in cells harboring EGFR mutations such as TKI-sensitive exon 19 deletion (Ex19del) and L858R mutation as well as TKI-resistant T790M mutation, subsequently suppressing cellular growth and motility. Lectin blotting and ligand blotting in lung cancer cell lines suggested that EGFR mutants express oligomannose-type N-glycans and interact with SFTPD directly. Cross-linking assay indicated that SFTPD inhibits ligand-independent dimerization of EGFR mutants. We also demonstrated that SFTPD reduced dimerization-independent phosphorylation of Ex19del and T790M EGFR mutants using point mutations that disrupted the asymmetric dimer interface. It was confirmed that SFTPD augmented the viability-suppressing effects of EGFR-TKIs. Furthermore, retrospective analysis of 121 patients with lung adenocarcinoma to examine associations between serum SFTPD levels and clinical outcome indicated that in TKI-treated patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations, including Ex19del or L858R, high serum SFTPD levels correlated with a lower number of distant metastases and prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival. These findings suggest that SFTPD downregulates both TKI-sensitive and -resistant EGFR mutant signaling, and SFTPD level is correlated with clinical outcome. These findings illustrate the use of serum SFTPD level as a potential marker to estimate the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs.

IL4Rα and ADAM33 as genetic markers in asthma exacerbations and type-2 inflammatory endotype

BACKGROUND

Genetic markers of susceptibility to asthma exacerbations in adults remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify genetic markers of asthma exacerbations, particularly in patients with type-2 inflammatory endotype.

METHODS

In this observational study of patients enrolled in the Kinki Hokuriku Airway disease Conference multicenter study, frequency of exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids during 2 years after enrolment and associated risk factors was determined. For genetic marker analysis, interleukin-4 receptor α (IL4RA) rs8832 and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) S_2 (rs528557), T_1 (rs2280091), T_2 (rs2280090), and V_4 (rs2787094) variants were included. Elevated serum periostin levels at enrolment (≥95 ng/mL, defined as type-2 inflammatory endotype) were considered in the analysis.

RESULTS

Among 217 patients who were successfully followed up for 2 years after enrolment, 60 patients showed at least one asthma exacerbation during the 2 years. Airflow limitation (%FEV₁ <80%) and recent exacerbations but not genetic variants were identified as risk markers of exacerbations. A total of 27 patients showed type-2 inflammatory endotype (serum periostin ≥95 ng/mL at enrolment) and subsequent exacerbations; risk factors in these patients were airflow limitation (odds ratio, 6.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.37-18.6; P=.0003), GG genotype of IL4RA rs8832 (odds ratio, 4.01; 95% CI: 1.47-11.0; P=.007), and A allele of ADAM33 T_2 (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% CI: 1.05-7.67; P=.04) by multivariate analysis. In addition, GG genotype of IL4RA rs8832 was associated with type-2 endotype, whereas A allele of ADAM33 T_2 was associated with mixed type of eosinophilic/type-2 and neutrophilic inflammations.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

IL4RA and ADAM33 variants may be risk markers of asthma exacerbations in type-2 inflammatory endotype. Precise endotyping may facilitate the identification of genetic risk markers of asthma exacerbations.

Possible Involvement of the Rat Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial/-Spinal Oxytocinergic Pathways in Acute Nociceptive Responses

Oxytocin (OXT)-containing neurosecretory cells in the parvocellular divisions of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which project to the medulla and spinal cord, are involved in various physiological functions, such as sensory modulation and autonomic processes. In the present study, we examined OXT expression in the hypothalamo-spinal pathway, as well as the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, which includes the magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the PVN and the supraoptic nucleus (SON), after s.c. injection of saline or formalin into the hindpaws of transgenic rats that express the OXT and monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1) fusion gene. (i) The numbers of OXT-mRFP1 neurones that expressed Fos-like immunoreactivity (-IR) and OXT-mRFP1 intensity were increased significantly in the magnocellular/parvocellular PVN and SON after s.c. injection of formalin. (ii) OXT-mRFP1 neurones in the anterior parvocellular PVN, which may project to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, were activated by s.c. injection of formalin, as indicated by a significant increases of Fos-IR and mRFP1 intensity intensity. (iii) Formalin injection caused a significant transient increase in plasma OXT. (iv) OXT, mRFP1 and corticotrophin-releasing hormone mRNAs in the PVN were significantly increased after s.c. injection of formalin. (v) An intrathecal injection of OXT-saporin induced hypersensitivity in conscious rats. Taken together, these results suggest that the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial/-spinal OXTergic pathways may be involved in acute nociceptive responses in rats.

Measurements of Elliptic and Triangular Flow in High-Multiplicity 3He+Au Collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV

We present the first measurement of elliptic (v(2)) and triangular (v(3)) flow in high-multiplicity (3)He+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200  GeV. Two-particle correlations, where the particles have a large separation in pseudorapidity, are compared in (3)He+Au and in p+p collisions and indicate that collective effects dominate the second and third Fourier components for the correlations observed in the (3)He+Au system. The collective behavior is quantified in terms of elliptic v(2) and triangular v(3) anisotropy coefficients measured with respect to their corresponding event planes. The v(2) values are comparable to those previously measured in d+Au collisions at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy. Comparisons with various theoretical predictions are made, including to models where the hot spots created by the impact of the three (3)He nucleons on the Au nucleus expand hydrodynamically to generate the triangular flow. The agreement of these models with data may indicate the formation of low-viscosity quark-gluon plasma even in these small collision systems.

Fluorescent Visualisation of Oxytocin in the Hypothalamo-neurohypophysial/-spinal Pathways After Chronic Inflammation in Oxytocin-Monomeric Red Fluorescent Protein 1 Transgenic Rats

Oxytocin (OXT) is a well-known neurohypophysial hormone that is synthesised in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of the hypothalamus. The projection of magnocellular neurosecretory cells, which synthesise OXT and arginine vasopressin in the PVN and SON, to the posterior pituitary plays an essential role in mammalian labour and lactation through its peripheral action. However, previous studies have shown that parvocellular OXTergic cells in the PVN, which project to the medulla and spinal cord, are involved in various physiological functions (e.g. sensory modulation and autonomic). In the present study, we examined OXT expression in the PVN, SON and spinal cord after chronic inflammation from adjuvant arthritis (AA). We used transgenic rats that express OXT and the monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1) fusion gene to visualise both the magnocellular and parvocellular OXTergic pathways. OXT-mRFP1 fluorescence intensity was significantly increased in the PVN, SON, dorsal horn of the spinal cord and posterior pituitary in AA rats. The levels of OXT-mRFP1 mRNA were significantly increased in the PVN and SON of AA rats. These results suggested that OXT was up-regulated in both hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells and parvocellular cells by chronic inflammation, and also that OXT in the PVN-spinal pathway may be involved in sensory modulation. OXT-mRFP1 transgenic rats are a very useful model for visualising the OXTergic pathways from vesicles in a single cell to terminals in in vitro preparations.

IQ is an independent predictor of glycated haemoglobin level in young and middle-aged adults with intellectual disability

AIMS

Here we examined whether intellectual disability is independently associated with hyperglycaemia.

METHODS

We recruited 233 consecutive young and middle-aged adults with intellectual disability. After exclusion of subjects on medication for metabolic diseases or with severe intellectual disability (IQ < 35), 121 subjects were divided by IQ into a group with moderate intellectual disability (35 ≤ IQ ≤ 50), a mild intellectual disability group (51 ≤ IQ ≤ 70) and a borderline group (IQ > 70).

RESULTS

HbA1c level was higher in subjects with moderate intellectual disability (42 ± 9 mmol/mol; 6.0 ± 0.8%) than those in the borderline group (36 ± 4 mmol/mol; 5.5 ± 0.3%) and mild intellectual disability group (37 ± 5 mmol/mol; 5.5 ± 0.5%) groups. HbA1c level was correlated with age, BMI, blood pressure, serum triglycerides and IQ in simple linear regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis indicated that IQ, age, BMI and diastolic blood pressure were independent explanatory factors of HbA1c level.

CONCLUSIONS

An unfavourable effect of intellectual disability on lifestyle and untoward effect of hyperglycaemia on cognitive function may underlie the association of low IQ with hyperglycaemia.

GLCCI1 variant accelerates pulmonary function decline in patients with asthma receiving inhaled corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

In steroid-naive patients with asthma, several gene variants are associated with a short-term response to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment; this has mostly been observed in Caucasians. However, not many studies have been conducted for other ethnicities. Here, we aimed to determine the relationship between the annual decline in forced expiratory flow volume in one second (FEV1 ) and the variant of the glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 gene (GLCCI1) in Japanese patients with asthma receiving long-term ICS treatment, taking into account the effect of high serum periostin levels, a known association factor of pulmonary function decline and a marker of refractory eosinophilic/Th2 inflammation.

METHODS

In this study, 224 patients with asthma receiving ICS treatment for at least 4 years were enrolled. The effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GLCCI1, stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), and T gene on the decline in FEV1 of 30 ml/year or greater were determined.

RESULTS

Besides the known contributing factors, that is, the most intensive treatment step, ex-smoking, and high serum periostin levels (≥95 ng/ml), the GG genotype of GLCCI1 rs37973, and not other SNPs, was independently associated with a decline in FEV1 of 30 ml/year or greater. When patients were stratified according to their serum periostin levels, the GG genotype of rs37973 was significantly associated with blood eosinophilia (≥250/μl) in the high serum periostin group.

CONCLUSIONS

A GLCCI1 variant is a risk factor of pulmonary function decline in Japanese patients with asthma receiving long-term ICS treatment. Thus, GLCCI1 may be associated with response to ICS across ethnicities.

Medium modification of jet fragmentation in Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured in direct photon-hadron correlations

The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The p(T) of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p(T) of the jet and the ratio z(T)=p(T)(h)/p(T)(γ) is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I(AA), the ratio of hadron yield opposite the photon in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z(T). The associated hadron yield at low z(T) is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.

Impact of immunoreactive substances contained in apheresis platelet concentrate on postoperative respiratory function in surgical patients receiving platelet transfusion: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To construct an alternative policy for the donor selection of platelet concentrate (PC), a clinical study exploring the features of lung injury following PC administration is needed.

BACKGROUND

Although a male-donor-only policy for plasma products appears to have efficiently reduced transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), this policy may not be applied to PC because of supply shortages.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We prospectively examined pulmonary function after the transfusion of PC in informed surgical patients treated at a tertiary university hospital in Japan. The contributions of immunoreactive substances contained in the PC to respiratory function after PC transfusion was then statistically examined.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients (56 men, 30 women) were enrolled in the analysis. Fifty-four cases experienced respiratory failure (PaO2 /FiO2 <300 mmHg) after transfusion. Five cases were diagnosed as possible TRALI based on permeability pulmonary oedema, while 23 cases were diagnosed as transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) based on chest radiograph findings. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the presence of anti-granulocyte antibody as a significant predictor of possible TRALI [P = 0.023; odds ratio (OR), 13.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-118.3]. Meanwhile, anti-leukocyte antibody class II was identified as a significant independent predictor of TACO (P = 0.010; OR, 18.4; 95% CI, 2.0-170.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that antibodies contained in PC may contribute to the deterioration of respiratory function after PC transfusion, although the diagnoses of TACO and TRALI may have overlapped among the patients with pulmonary distress in this cohort.

IL-13-producing BLT1-positive CD8 cells are increased in asthma and are associated with airway obstruction

BACKGROUND

The role of CD8 T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of asthma is not well understood. We investigated whether a subset of IL-13-producing BLT1-positive CD8 T lymphocytes are present in asthmatic airways and are associated with impaired lung function.

METHODS

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells were obtained from asthmatic (n = 39) and healthy control (n = 28) subjects. Cells were stimulated with phorbol ester and ionomycin in the presence of brefeldin A and stained for CD8, BLT1, and intracellular IL-13. The frequency of IL-13-producing BLT1-positive CD8 T lymphocytes was compared between the two groups and related to lung function, serum IgE levels, and reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickness.

RESULTS

A subset of CD8 T lymphocytes expressing BLT1 and producing IL-13 were detected in the airways of all asthmatic subjects. The frequency of this subset among recovered lymphocytes was significantly higher in the airways of asthmatic subjects compared with controls (mean ± SEM: 16.2 ± 1.4 vs 5.3 ± 0.5, respectively, P < 0.001) and correlated positively with serum IgE levels and RBM thickness. More importantly, the frequency of CD8 T lymphocytes co-expressing BLT1 and IL-13 was inversely related to FEV1 and FEF[25-75] percent predicted values (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A subset of CD8 T lymphocytes expressing BLT1 and producing IL-13 is present in the airways of asthmatics. The accumulation of these cells is associated with airway obstruction, suggesting that they may play a significant pathogenic role in bronchial asthma.

Measurement of direct photons in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV

We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse momentum range of 4 GeV/c<p(T)<22 GeV/c, using a statistical method to subtract decay photons from the inclusive photon sample. The direct photon nuclear modification factor R(AA) was calculated as a function of p(T) for different Au+Au collision centralities using the measured p+p direct photon spectrum and compared to theoretical predictions. R(AA) was found to be consistent with unity for all centralities over the entire measured p(T) range. Theoretical models that account for modifications of initial direct photon production due to modified parton distribution functions in Au and the different isospin composition of the nuclei predict a modest change of R(AA) from unity. They are consistent with the data. Models with compensating effects of the quark-gluon plasma on high-energy photons, such as suppression of jet-fragmentation photons and induced-photon bremsstrahlung from partons traversing the medium, are also consistent with this measurement.

Outcomes of endoscopic and surgical resection for a second primary cancer in the residual cervical esophagus after thoracic esophagectomy

Patients who have received subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer must be closely monitored for second primary malignancies. The purpose of this study is to review and assess patients who developed a second primary esophageal cancer in the residual cervical esophagus. Between 1996 and 2010, 10 patients were diagnosed in our hospital with esophageal squamous cell cancer in the residual cervical esophagus after undergoing thoracic esophagectomy and were treated with endoscopic or surgical resection. Data from these patients were reviewed retrospectively. Seven of the 10 patients (70%) had multiple primary carcinoma lesions at the time of their esophagectomy. A second primary cancer in the residual cervical esophagus was detected in eight patients during follow-up endoscopic examinations while the patients were still asymptomatic. Seven of the patients underwent endoscopic resection for a superficial cancer. None of those patients experienced any complications, and all are currently alive and cancer-free. The remaining three patients underwent resection of the cervical esophagus with regional lymph node dissection. Two of those patients experienced severe complications; one subsequently died (hospital death) from pneumonia, 12 months after surgery, while the other died from recurrence of his cancer. The third patient is alive and cancer-free. Early detection of a second primary malignancy in the residual cervical esophagus followed by endoscopic resection is the best treatment strategy for patients who previously received subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer. Surgical resection puts patients at high risk of mortality or morbidity.

Intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring of ocular motor nerves under conditions of partial neuromuscular blockade during skull base surgery

The feasibility and usefulness of intraoperative electromyographic monitoring of the oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), and abducens nerve (CN IV) were evaluated under conditions of partial neuromuscular blockade in 21 patients undergoing skill base surgery. Intracranial electrical stimulation of each nerve was performed, and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were reconded from the inferior or superior rectus muscle, the superior oblique muscle, and the lateral rectus muscle for monitoring of CN III, IV, and VI, respectively. Partial neuromuscular blockade was achieved by controlled infusion of vecuronium titrated to eliminate about 90% of the twitch response of the abductor pollicis brevis to electrical stimulation of the median nerve. A total of 30 cranial nerves were stimulated intraoperatively. Of these, 29 were successfully monitored (19 CN III, 6 CN IV, 4 CN VI). A relationship was found between intraoperative findings of cranial nerve monitoring, such as disappearance of response and increase in latency and stimulus threshold during manipulation of a lesion, and the presence of postoperative nerve deficits. We conclude that intraoperative electromyographic monitoring of ocular motor nerves is feasible during partial neuromuscular blockade, and that partial neuromuscular blockade does not affect the relationship between findings of intraoperative monitoring and postoperative nerve function.

Micafungin does not influence the concentration of tacrolimus in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Tacrolimus is commonly used in stem cell transplant recipients for prophylaxis of graft-vs-host disease. Micafungin is widely used as a strong antifungal agent in empirical therapy in patients with febrile neutropenia. Both tacrolimus and micafungin are substrates of cytochrome P450 3A4 in vitro. Therefore, there is risk of drug interaction with concomitant administration of these drugs.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the drug interaction of tacrolimus and micafungin by evaluating the pharmacokinetics in 6 patients who had undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) concentration-dose ratio of tacrolimus in all patients at 1, 4, 8, and 24 hours after concomitant administration of micafungin was 607 ± 306, 653 ± 328, 699 ± 340 and 671 ± 403 (ng/mL)/(mg/kg/d), respectively, and without micafungin was 756 ± 314 (ng/mL)/(mg/kg/d). The percentage of the concentration-dose ratio in patients treated with tacrolimus and micafungin vs patients treated with tacrolimus alone was 98%, 105%, 112%, and 108% at 1, 4, 8, and 24 hours, respectively. For both tacrolimus and micafungin, the 90% confidence intervals for the primary pharmacokinetic parameters (ie, the concentration-dose ratio at each point) ranged from 80% to 125%.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that there is no drug interaction between tacrolimus and concomitantly administered micafungin in stem cell transplantation recipients.

Enhanced production of direct photons in Au + Au collisions at square root(S(NN)) = 200 GeV and implications for the initial temperature

The production of e+ e- pairs for m(e+ e-)<0.3 GeV/c2 and 1<p(T)<5 GeV/c is measured in p+p and Au+Au collisions at square root(S(NN))=200 GeV. An enhanced yield above hadronic sources is observed. Treating the excess as photon internal conversions, the invariant yield of direct photons is deduced. In central Au+Au collisions, the excess of the direct photon yield over p+p is exponential in transverse momentum, with an inverse slope T=221+/-19(stat)+/-19(syst) MeV. Hydrodynamical models with initial temperatures ranging from T(init) approximately 300-600 MeV at times of approximately 0.6-0.15 fm/c after the collision are in qualitative agreement with the data. Lattice QCD predicts a phase transition to quark gluon plasma at approximately 170 MeV.

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Is a New Target of Cancer Stem Cell Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients

Introduction: Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial for growth and patterning during embryonic development. We have shown that Hh pathway is constitutively reactivated in human breast cancer (Kubo M et al. Cancer Res 2004). Recently, it has been proposed that only a small subset, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), posseses tumorigenicity. And, several investigations suggest contributions of morphogenesis pathways including Hh pathway in the maintenance of CSCs. Purpose of this study is to reveal an essential role of Hh pathway in the maintenance of CSCs, and also to reveal a possibility of Hh pathway as a target of CSCs therapy for breast cancer patients.Materials and Methods: A human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was used. In the present study, we estimated CD44+CD24-/low cells or side population (SP) cells as CSCs. Flow cytometric analysis and sorting were performed to detect and collect CSCs, respectively. To confirm the high tumorigenicity of CSCs, we used a MCF-7 cell xenograft mouse model in NOD/SCID mice. To assess the expression of Hh pathway-related molecules, real-time RT-PCR and fluorescent immunostaining were performed. For blockade of Hh pathway, a Hh inhibitor, cyclopamine, and small interference RNA (si-RNA) against Gli1, a trans-activator of the Hh pathway, were used. We also synthesized peptides with specific affinity for a transmembrane receptor Patched1 (Ptch1).Results: CD44+CD24-/low cells and SP cells in total MCF-7 cells were 10-25% and 1-4%, respectively and these two populations were overlapped with each other. These CSCs were highly tumorigenic, and resistant to anticancer drugs including taxanes.Hh pathway-related molecules such as Shh, a ligand of Hh pathway, and Gli1 were predominantly expressed in CSCs. Cyclopamine and Ptch1 affinitive peptides could suppress the tumorigenicity of CSCs in NOD/SCID mice xenograft transplantation model.Conclusions: Hh pathway at least partly contributes to the maintenance of CSCs in MCF-7 cells. Thus, Hh pathway may be a valuable therapeutic target for CSCs therapy for breast cancer patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1161.

Charged Kaon interferometric probes of space-time evolution in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)]=200 GeV

Bose-Einstein correlations of charged kaons are used to probe Au+Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)]=200 GeV and are compared to charged pion probes, which have a larger hadronic scattering cross section. Three-dimensional Gaussian source radii are extracted, along with a one-dimensional kaon emission source function. The centrality dependences of the three Gaussian radii are well described by a single linear function of N(part)1/3 with a zero intercept. Imaging analysis shows a deviation from a Gaussian tail at r greater than or approximately equal to 10 fm, although the bulk emission at lower radius is well described by a Gaussian. The presence of a non-Gaussian tail in the kaon source reaffirms that the particle emission region in a heavy-ion collision is extended, and that similar measurements with pions are not solely due to the decay of long-lived resonances.

Measurement of bottom versus charm as a function of transverse momentum with electron-hadron correlations in p + p collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV

The momentum distribution of electrons from semileptonic decays of charm and bottom quarks for midrapidity |y|<0.35 in p+p collisions at square root of s=200 GeV is measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over the transverse momentum range 2<pT<7 GeV/c. The ratio of the yield of electrons from bottom to that from charm is presented. The ratio is determined using partial D/D-->e(+/-)K(-/+)X (K unidentified) reconstruction. It is found that the yield of electrons from bottom becomes significant above 4 GeV/c in pT. A fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculation agrees with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties. The extracted total bottom production cross section at this energy is sigma(bb)=3.2(-1.1)(+1.2)(stat)(-1.3)(+1.4)(syst)mub.

First results on angular distributions of thermal dileptons in nuclear collisions

The NA60 experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron has studied dimuon production in 158A GeV In-In collisions. The strong excess of pairs above the known sources found in the complete mass region 0.2<M<2.6 GeV has previously been interpreted as thermal radiation. We now present first results on the associated angular distributions. Using the Collins-Soper reference frame, the structure function parameters lambda, mu, and nu are measured to be zero, and the projected distributions in polar and azimuth angles are found to be uniform. The absence of any polarization is consistent with the interpretation of the excess dimuons as thermal radiation from a randomized system.