High-Precision Spectroscopy of ^{20}O Benchmarking Ab Initio Calculations in Light Nuclei

The excited states of unstable ^{20}O were investigated via γ-ray spectroscopy following the ^{19}O(d,p)^{20}O reaction at 8  AMeV. By exploiting the Doppler shift attenuation method, the lifetimes of the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states were firmly established. From the γ-ray branching and E2/M1 mixing ratios for transitions deexciting the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states, the B(E2) and B(M1) were determined. Various chiral effective field theory Hamiltonians, describing the nuclear properties beyond ground states, along with a standard USDB interaction, were compared with the experimentally obtained data. Such a comparison for a large set of γ-ray transition probabilities with the valence space in medium similarity renormalization group ab initio calculations was performed for the first time in a nucleus far from stability. It was shown that the ab initio approaches using chiral effective field theory forces are challenged by detailed high-precision spectroscopic properties of nuclei. The reduced transition probabilities were found to be a very constraining test of the performance of the ab initio models.

Shape Changes in the Mirror Nuclei ^{70}Kr and ^{70}Se

We studied the proton-rich T_{z}=-1 nucleus ^{70}Kr through inelastic scattering at intermediate energies in order to extract the reduced transition probability, B(E2;0^{+}→2^{+}). Comparison with the other members of the A=70 isospin triplet, ^{70}Br and ^{70}Se, studied in the same experiment, shows a 3σ deviation from the expected linearity of the electromagnetic matrix elements as a function of T_{z}. At present, no established nuclear structure theory can describe this observed deviation quantitatively. This is the first violation of isospin symmetry at this level observed in the transition matrix elements. A heuristic approach may explain the anomaly by a shape change between the mirror nuclei ^{70}Kr and ^{70}Se contrary to the model predictions.

Effect of zinc nanoparticles on embryo and chicken growth, and the content of zinc in tissues and faeces

The hypothesis was that owing to their high bioavailability, zinc oxide nanoparticles (NanoZnO) can effectively replace (Zn) salts and reduce Zn excretion with faeces. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of NanoZnO on the development of chicken embryos, the growth of broiler chickens, and Zn excretion with faeces. At day 1 of incubation, 120 eggs were randomly divided between a control group (not injected) and groups injected with a hydrocolloid of NanoZnO in increasing concentrations (50, 100, 500 mg/L). At day 19 of incubation, no differences were observed in the bodyweight, but 100 and 500 mg/L affected liver and heart weights, indicating that high levels of NanoZnO may induce differential organ development. In the subsequent experiment, 308 chickens were randomly divided into six groups. The control diet was supplemented with 55 mg Zn/kg (standard level), the 0 group received no Zn supplement, and groups fed NanoZnO received 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the standard level. The 100% replacement of ZnO with NanoZnO increased the chickens’ bodyweight compared with the standard level of ZnO, but to the same level as the diet without ZnO supplementation. Furthermore, NanoZnO did not reduce the content of Zn in faeces, which was only significantly lower in the group without ZnO supplementation in comparison with other groups. The results indicate that the replacement of ZnO with NanoZnO had no negative effects on chicken growth. Compared with ZnO, NanoZnO did not reduce Zn excretion with faeces. Keywords: broiler, development, excretion, mineral, nanonutrition

P1722 Post myocardial infarction pericarditis or subacute left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction- a role of multimodality imaging

Introduction

Moderate to severe pericardial effusion (PE) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can be associated with a broad spectrum of etiologies like left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) or post- myocardial infarction pericarditis (PMIP).

We present a case of successful medical treatment of patient with subacute LVFWR after AMI, initially managed as PMIP.

Case Presentation

A 60- year- old man with a history of hypertension was admitted with persisting chest pain for 72 hours, with diagnosis of ST- segment elevation AMI of inferior wall. Patient underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the right coronary artery as the AMI culprit vessel. Two days after PCI patient experienced progressive sharp chest pain, dyspnea and low- grade fever. Clinical evaluation revealed elevated inflammatory markers and pericardial rub. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed PE up to 10 mm. Patient has been diagnosed and treated as PMIP. During further observation patient had TTE performed repeatedly. Four days after PCI TTE revealed PE of 20 mm thickness and suspicion of subacute LVFWR of the lateral wall. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) confirmed the diagnosis. Due to hemodynamic stability, the patient received only medical treatment. During further hospitalization TTE was performed every day. On fifteenth day both TTE and CMR didn’t reveal any rupture. Moreover patient was readmitted 6 weeks after initial hospitalization and TTE again did not show the LVFWR.

Discussion

Post AMI patients with PE who fulfill pericarditits diagnostic criteria should be managed as having PMIP. Nevertheless LVFWR should also be considered as frequent diagnosis of PE. Echocardiography is crucial in the prompt diagnosis of PE. In our presented case, the TTE did not show initially the LVFWR, only repeatedly performed investigation showed the increasing amount of PE and raised suspicion of subacute LVFWR, which was confirmed in CMR.

CMR has become a tool providing accurate diagnosis and visualization of the localization of rupture. Moreover CMR imaging can show LVFWR revealing whether the hematoma is circumscribed to the myocardium or communicates with ventricular cavity or the pericardial sac.

LVFWR is a catastrophic complication accounting for a significant proportion of in-patient deaths. It is accepted that emergent surgical repair is the cornerstone treatment for patients with LVFWR. However, similarly to ours, some cases with fairly good survival rates following isolated medical treatment have been reported. This clinical situation stands somewhere between the insidious free rupture into the pericardial cavity and the formation of the pseudoaneurysm.

Conclusions

Our presentation illustrates the usefulness of repeated multimodality imaging for the diagnosis and follow up of patients with PE after AMI. Our case also underscores the value of a conservative approach as a valid alternative to surgery in some patients with subacute LVFWR.

P11.14 The addition of hyperbaric oxygen to the treatment of T98G glioblastoma cell cultures with selected CK2 inhibitor TDB enhances its anti-tumour effect

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive glial neoplasm characterized by infiltrative cell growth in adults. The current standard of care for high-grade glioma patients includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy using temozolomide and other alkylating agents. Despite this, median survival of the patients with GBM is less than two years. One of the main factors related to the progression of neoplastic cells is hyperactivity of protein kinases, including CK2 kinase and a high level of tumor hypoxia, both of which also contribute to tumour resistance to treatment. Our previous study indicated that some CK2 inhibitors exhibit anti-proliferative effect on glioma cells. The aim of this study was to examine whether HBO may enhance the anti-tumour efficacy of 1-(β-D-2’-deoxyribofuranosyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole (TDB) - CK2 inhibitor, under combination HBO/TDB therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Studies were performed on human glioblastoma T98G cell line (ATCC). Cells were cultured in MEM medium supplemented with 1-(β-D-2’-deoxyribofuranosyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole in concentrations of 0.1 μM; 1 μM, 25 μM, 50 μM, 75μM, 100 μM. Cultures were sustained in various oxygen conditions: normoxia for 24 and 48 hours or1 hour of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO, 97,5% O2/2,5% CO2, pressure of 2 ATA) followed by 23 hours of normoxia (21% O2/5% CO2/78% N2). Control groups included the cultures sustained in normoxia conditions. The viability of glioma cell lines was established at 24 and 48 hours post TDB treatment by Cell Titer 96®A Queous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay.

RESULTS

The study evidenced that TDB inhibited the viability of neoplastic cells at a concentration of 75 μM after 24 and 48 hours. Administration of hyperbaric oxygen alone also caused a reduction in viability of glioblastoma cells. The cytotoxic effect of the tested CK2 inhibitor was significantly enhanced when tested compound was combined with HBO. What’s more, under the influence of hyperbaric oxygen, TDB significantly reduced the viability of tumor cells already at a concentration of 25 μM after 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperbaric oxygen administration significantly reduces the viability of T98G line cells and increases their sensitivity to the tested CK2 kinase inhibitor. The beneficial cytotoxic effect of TDB/HBO can be obtained at lower concentrations of the tested compound and after shorter exposure time as compared to its administration without HBO. Acknowledgement: The research was supported by the Foundation for the Development of Diagnostic and Therapy, Warsaw

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in ²²⁴Rn and ²²⁶Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.

The place of tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonists in the treatment diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Tachykinins act as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the central and peripheral nervous system. Preclinical studies and clinical trials showed that inhibition of the tachykinin receptors, mainly NK2 may constitute a novel attractive option in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this review, we focused on the role of tachykinins in physiology and pathophysiology of gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Moreover, we summed up recent data on tachykinin receptor antagonists in the therapy of IBS. Ibodutant is a novel drug with an interesting pharmacological profile, which exerted efficacy in women with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) in phase II clinical trials. The promising results were not replicable and confirmed in phase III of clinical trials. Ibodutant is not ready to be introduced in the pharmaceutical market and further studies on alternative NK2 antagonist are needed to make NK2 antagonists useful tools in IBS-D treatment.

High activity of the endogenous opioid system and acute but not chronic stress influence experimental colitis development in mice

Exposition to environmental factors is one of the major underlying causes in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with several endogenous systems involved. Our aim was to characterize the impact of stress on the colitis development in relation to the endogenous opioid system (EOS) activity in mice. A unique mouse model of high and low activity of EOS (namely high (HA)/low (LA) stress-induced analgesia) was employed. Mice were bred using bidirectional selection and classified as HA or LA line based on the measurement of analgesia. Colitis was induced by instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in 30% EtOH/0.9% NaCl. After 4 days, the macroscopic score was assessed and samples for molecular and histological studies were collected. To evaluate the influence of stress on colitis development, chronic mild stress (exposure to stress stimuli for 2 and 5 weeks) and acute stress (short restraint over 3 days) were applied before colitis induction. We observed a difference in the colitis development between non-stressed HA and LA mice, as indicated by macroscopic and ulcer scores. Acute stress improved colitis in HA mice but did not change the inflammation score in LA line as compared to respective non-stressed mice. Chronic mild stress had no influence on colitis in either of mouse lines. Our study supports the hypothesis that the activity of EOS may be crucial in IBD development. We also evidence that acute, but not chronic stress influenced IBD exacerbation, depending on EOS function.

Pseudospin Symmetry and Microscopic Origin of Shape Coexistence in the ^{78}Ni Region: A Hint from Lifetime Measurements

Lifetime measurements of excited states of the light N=52 isotones ^{88}Kr, ^{86}Se, and ^{84}Ge have been performed, using the recoil distance Doppler shift method and VAMOS and AGATA spectrometers for particle identification and gamma spectroscopy, respectively. The reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities B(E2;2^{+}→0^{+}) and B(E2;4^{+}→2^{+}) were obtained for the first time for the hard-to-reach ^{84}Ge. While the B(E2;2^{+}→0^{+}) values of ^{88}Kr, ^{86}Se saturate the maximum quadrupole collectivity offered by the natural valence (3s, 2d, 1g_{7/2}, 1h_{11/2}) space of an inert ^{78}Ni core, the value obtained for ^{84}Ge largely exceeds it, suggesting that shape coexistence phenomena, previously reported at N≲49, extend beyond N=50. The onset of collectivity at Z=32 is understood as due to a pseudo-SU(3) organization of the proton single-particle sequence reflecting a clear manifestation of pseudospin symmetry. It is realized that the latter provides actually reliable guidance for understanding the observed proton and neutron single particle structure in the whole medium-mass region, from Ni to Sn, pointing towards the important role of the isovector-vector ρ field in shell-structure evolution.

Studies of fission fragment yields via high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy

Precise spectroscopic information on the fast neutron induced fission of the 238U(n,f) reaction was recently gained using a new technique which involved coupling of the Miniball high resolution y-ray spectrometer and the LICORNE directional neutron source. The experiment allowed measurement of the isotopic fission yields for around 40 even-even nuclei at an incident neutron energy of around 2 MeV where yield data are very sparse. In addition spectroscopic information on very neutron-rich fission products was obtained. Results were compared to models, both the JEFF-3.1.1 data base and the GEF code, and large discrepancies for the S1 fission mode in the Sn/Mo isotope pair were discovered. This suggests that current models are overestimating the role played by spherical shell effects in fast neutron induced fission. In late 2017 and 2018 the nu-ball hybrid spectrometer will be constructed at the IPN Orsay to perform further experimental investigations with directional neutrons coupled to a powerful hybrid Ge/LaBr3 detector array. This will open up new possibilities for measurements of fission yields for fast-neutron-induced fission using the spectroscopic technique and will be complimentary to other methods being developed.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

BACKGROUND

We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

METHODS

During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days.

RESULTS

Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs.

CONCLUSIONS

Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically.

Salvinorin A analogues PR-37 and PR-38 attenuate compound 48/80-induced itch responses in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The opioid system plays a crucial role in several physiological processes in the CNS and in the periphery. It has also been shown that selective opioid receptor agonists exert potent inhibitory action on pruritus and pain. In this study we examined whether two analogues of Salvinorin A, PR-37 and PR-38, exhibit antipruritic properties in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

To examine the antiscratch effect of PR-37 and PR-38 we used a mouse model of compound 48/80-induced pruritus. In order to elucidate the mechanism of action of tested compounds, specific antagonists of opioid and cannabinoid receptors were used. The effect of PR-37 on the CNS was assessed by measuring motor parameters and exploratory behaviours in mice.

KEY RESULTS

PR-37 and PR-38, jnjected s.c., significantly reduced the number of compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviours in mice in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PR-38 was also active when orally administered. The antiscratch activity of PR-37 was blocked by the selective κ opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine, and that of PR-38 by the selective μ opioid receptor antagonist, β-funaltrexamine.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

In conclusion, a novel framework for the development of new antipruritic drugs derived from salvinorin A has been validated.

Evidence for a smooth onset of deformation in the neutron-rich Kr isotopes

The neutron-rich nuclei 94,96Kr were studied via projectile Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Level energies of the first excited 2(+) states and their absolute E2 transition strengths to the ground state are determined and discussed in the context of the E(2(1)(+)) and B(E2;2(1)(+)→0(1)(+)) systematics of the krypton chain. Contrary to previously published results no sudden onset of deformation is observed. This experimental result is supported by a new proton-neutron interacting boson model calculation based on the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach using the microscopic Gogny-D1M energy density functional.

Gamma-ray spectroscopy at the limits: first observation of rotational bands in 255Lr

The rotational band structure of 255Lr has been investigated using advanced in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopic techniques. To date, 255Lr is the heaviest nucleus to be studied in this manner. One rotational band has been unambiguously observed and strong evidence for a second rotational structure was found. The structures are tentatively assigned to be based on the 1/2-[521] and 7/2-[514] Nilsson states, consistent with assignments from recently obtained alpha decay data. The experimental rotational band dynamic moment of inertia is used to test self-consistent mean-field calculations using the Skyrme SLy4 interaction and a density-dependent pairing force.

Effect of volumetric organic loading on the nitrogen removal rate by immobilised activated sludge

Activated sludge was immobilised in a porous ceramic carrier to create a stationary core of a bio-reactor. Municipal wastewater was treated in this reactor under varied conditions of volumetric organic loading rate (expressed by chemical oxygen demand (COD)) that were the following: 6.5, 8.0, 20.8, 48.8 g COD l(-1) d(-1). The rate constants of ammonification, nitrification and denitrification under aerobic conditions were determined. All rate constants increased with a growth in volumetric loading rate, but the highest loading value of 48.8 g COD l(-1) d(-1) limited the ammonification and nitrification rates.

Myocardial blood volume and the amount of viable myocardium early after mechanical reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction: prospective study using venous contrast echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Myocardial capillary perfusion is a prerequisite of myocellular viability after reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction. It was hypothesised that the magnitude of myocardial capillary perfusion, assessed by transmural signal intensity in venous contrast echocardiography as a corollary of the blood volume of myocardial capillaries, and the amount of viable myocardium, represented by differential levels of contractile function two weeks after reperfusion, are correlated.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of venous contrast echocardiography for the identification of viable myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction early after successful mechanical reperfusion.

METHODS

60 patients with a first acute myocardial infarction underwent venous contrast echocardiography several hours after successful mechanical reperfusion (median time interval 190 min.). The relative transmural videointensity (median (25th, 75th percentiles)) of akinetic segments was determined. After two weeks, contractile function was re-evaluated at rest and during dobutamine infusion if segments without functional recovery were present.

RESULTS

Relative videointensity early after reperfusion differed significantly between functional groups after two weeks: normokinesia (88% (77%, 100%)), hypokinesia (74% (54%, 99%)), and akinesia with (61% (48%, 76%)) and without contractile reserve (31% (22%, 46%)). Relative videointensity and contractile function were significantly correlated (r = -0.67). The diagnostic accuracy of relative videointensity > 50% for prediction of contractility of initially akinetic segments at rest or during dobutamine was 82% (chi2 = 76.2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early after successful mechanical reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction, the magnitude of capillary perfusion in the perfusion territory of an infarct related artery is correlated with the amount of viable myocardium. Quantitative venous contrast echocardiography can be used for accurate identification of viable myocardium.

Non-invasive cardiac evaluation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was non-invasive assessment of cardiac function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a group of 36 patients with SLE transthoracic echocardiography, standard ECG and the 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring were performed and the results were compared to a control group of 35 healthy volunteers. Significantly lower mean values of heart rate variability (HRV), the presence of late ventricular potentials and tendency to tachycardia were detected in SLE patients when compared to the control group. On echocardiography examination valvular lesions were found in 15 SLE patients but only in 5 of them were insignificant mitral or aortic regurgitant jets observed. Echocardiography did not reveal abnormalities in cardiac dimensions and left ventricle systolic function. Abnormal indexes of left ventricular filling were found in 3 patients. All SLE patients with antiphospholipid antibodies had some cardiovascular manifestation.

Fulminant thrombosis of mechanical mitral valve prosthesis

In patients with prosthetic heart valves non-cardiac surgery may require temporary discontinuation of oral anticoagulation. Although the risk of valve related thromboembolic complications may generally be only slightly increased during the short perioperative period, in the presence of certain risk factors, replacement of oral anticoagulation with heparin is recommended. In the presented patient, unusually fulminant and finally fatal thrombosis of a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis developed within only 48 hours after non-cardiac surgery despite heparin treatment. The thrombosis was triggered by clinical conditions favouring a hypercoagulable state. This report dramatically shows that despite improvements in prosthetic heart valve design and in the management of anticoagulation, thrombosis remains one of the most dangerous complications after valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis.

Mutational specificity of N-nitrosodimethylamine: comparison between in vivo and in vitro assays

We have determined the DNA alterations recovered after treatment with Aroclor 1254-treated rat S9-activated N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the N-terminal region of the lacI gene of E. coli. A total of 125 independent LacI-d mutants of E. coli were characterized by DNA sequencing. Consistent with the known methylating ability of this compound, the predominant mutation was the G:C-->A:T transition, which accounted for 90% of all the mutations recovered. Non G:C-->A:T events include 2 G:C-->T:A, 2 G:C-->C:G, 2 A:T-->G:C, 3 A:T-->T:A and 3 frameshifts. Contingency analysis reveals that NDMA-induced mutations recovered after in vitro activation (S9) have a spectrum very similar to that previously obtained after in vivo activation employing a mouse host-mediated assay. In both systems, G:C-->A:T events clearly dominate and their distribution reveals similar site-specificity. Moreover, the proportion and kind of non-G:C-->A:T events are also similar.