Measurement of the rate of nu(e) + d --> p + p + e(-) interactions produced by (8)B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Solar neutrinos from (8)B decay have been detected at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory via the charged current (CC) reaction on deuterium and the elastic scattering (ES) of electrons. The flux of nu(e)'s is measured by the CC reaction rate to be straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) = 1.75 +/- 0.07(stat)(+0.12)(-0.11)(syst) +/- 0.05(theor) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1). Comparison of straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) to the Super-Kamiokande Collaboration's precision value of the flux inferred from the ES reaction yields a 3.3 sigma difference, assuming the systematic uncertainties are normally distributed, providing evidence of an active non- nu(e) component in the solar flux. The total flux of active 8B neutrinos is determined to be 5.44+/-0.99 x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1).

Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) is essential for normal neural tube and limb development

Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) is a membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase that serves as a high-affinity receptor for fibroblast growth factors. It has recently been shown that FGFR-1 mutant embryos die during gastrulation displaying severe growth retardation and defective mesodermal structures. This early lethality has obscured functions of FGFR-1 that might occur later in development. To circumvent these embryonic defects, we generated chimeras by injecting FGFR-1-deficient (R1-/-) ES cells into wild-type blastocysts. We found that the fgfr-1 gene plays an important role after gastrulation and that it acts in a cell-autonomous fashion. Embryos with a high contribution of R1-/- cells replicate the FGFR-1 null phenotype and die during gastrulation. In contrast, the majority of embryos with a low contribution of R1-/- cells complete gastrulation and display malformations of posterior structures at later stages of embryogenesis. These abnormalities include truncation of embryonic structures, limb bud malformation, partial duplication of the neural tube, tail distortion, and spina bifida caused by the amplification of neural tissue in the posterior portion of the spinal cord. Thus, FGFR-1 plays a role in neurulation, suggesting that there may be a connection between FGFR-1-mediated signal pathways and neural tube defects, the most common malformations in the human central nervous system.

Myocardial collagen changes and edema in rats with hyperdynamic sepsis

OBJECTIVE

To determine if sepsis, which is accompanied by both systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction, involves changes in myocardial collagen, as myocardial collagen changes can affect both myocardial compliance and contractility.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

SETTING

Animal laboratory at a university-affiliated hospital.

SUBJECTS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 310 to 396 g.

INTERVENTIONS

Cecal ligation and perforation (to induce sepsis) for 24 (n = 9) or 48 hrs (n = 9); sham laparotomy for 24 (n = 10) or 48 hrs (n = 9) with saline fluid resuscitation or normal control (n = 5) groups.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Collagen content and interstitial space were determined, using polarized light microscopy and a computer video densitometry system. At 24 and 48 hrs post surgery, heart rate and cardiac index were increased, and systemic vascular resistance index was decreased significantly in the sepsis vs. the sham rats. Collagen content was decreased significantly in the sepsis vs. the sham groups both at 24 and 48 hrs following surgery (1.83 +/- 0.79 [SD] % [24 hrs], 1.76 +/- 0.31% [48 hrs] vs. 2.83 +/- 0.73% [24 hrs], 2.25 +/- 0.72% [48 hrs]; p < .01). Interstitial space was increased significantly in the sepsis vs. the sham groups (13.9 +/- 3.5% [24 hrs], 15.6 +/- 5.2% [48 hrs] vs. 8.6 +/- 4.2% [24 hrs], 9.9 +/- 4.8% [48 hrs]; p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis is accompanied by changes in myocardial collagen content and myocardial edema. These changes may contribute to the systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction, and particularly to the ventricular dilation, observed in sepsis.