AB1093 SAFETY OF COVID-19 VACCINES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (PRELIMINARY DATA)

Background

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at high risk of developing COVID-19. Vaccination should be an effective method of preventing this disease. However, vaccination may be unsafe in RA patients. At present, data on the safety of vaccines against COVID-19 in RA patients are few and relate to foreign vaccines that are not licensed in Russia.

Objectives

To study the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with RA in real clinical practice.

Methods

The study included 131 RA patients (120 women, 11 men, age 53.8±13.9 years, duration of disease 11.5±9.2 years) - the main group and 121 people without any immuno-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (87 women, 34 men, age 39.8±14.2 years) - the control group. 103 patients received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (54 - methotrexate, 30 - leflunomide, 10 - hydroxychloroquine, 8 - sulfasalazine, 1 - mofetil mycophenolate), 68 - biological drugs (58 - rituximab, 5 – TNF-α inhibitors, 4 - abatacept, 1 - tocilizumab), 64 - glucocorticoids, 10 - did not receive therapy. In the main group, 92 patients were vaccinated with Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), 21 with Sputnik Light, 16 with CoviVac, 2 with EpiVacCorona (110 patients received two components of the vaccine). In the control group, 91 were vaccinated with Sputnik V, 16 with CoviVac, 6 with BNT162b2, 5 with Sputnik Light, 2 with EpiVacCorona, 1 with mRNA-1273 (114 participants received two components of the vaccine). All participants were interviewed by a research doctor with a unified questionnaire, additional information was obtained from medical documentation.

Results

Local and systemic adverse events (AEs) were observed both in the main group and in the control group. After the introduction of the first component of the vaccine, local AEs (pain/hyperemia/edema) were noted in 12.2% of RA patients and in 10.7% of the control group, after the introduction of the second component of the vaccine - in 9.1% and 11.4% of respondents, respectively (in both groups p>0.05). There was a significant difference between the main group and the control group in the frequency of pain at the injection site without restriction of movements both after the first (24.4% and 40.5%, p=0.007) and after the second component (18.2% and 31.6%, p=0.021). The most frequent systemic AEs were weakness, fever, muscle or joint pain, headache, chills, which were observed in both groups after administration of both the first and second components of the vaccine. There was a significant difference between the main group and the control group in the frequency of fever (16.8% and 39.7%, p<0.001), weakness (26.0% and 38.8%, p=0.029), muscle and joint pain (9.2% and 25.6%, p<0.001) after administration of the first (but not the second) component of the vaccine. A significant difference was revealed between the main group and the control group in the number of patients with local and systemic AEs both after the introduction of the first component of the vaccine (19.1% and 43%, p<0.001) and after the second (15.5% and 30.7%, p=0.007). After administration of the two components of the vaccine, a higher number of patients without any AEs were detected in the main group compared to the control group (32.7% and 18.4%, p=0.014). Exacerbation of RA and the emergence of new autoimmune phenomena in main group are not marked.

Conclusion

According to preliminary data, the tolerance of vaccines against COVID-19 in RA patients is satisfactory. Further studies are needed to study the safety, immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of immunization against COVID-19 in patients of this cohort.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB1132 FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF COVID-19 IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH IMMUNO-INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES (PRELIMINARY DATA)

Background

It is assumed that patients with immuno-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IIRDs) in old age are susceptible to a more severe course of COVID-19 both due immunological disorders (autoimmune disease and its activity, immunosuppressive therapy, immunosenescence leading to systemic subclinical chronic inflammation with increased secretion of IL-6, IL-1, IL-18, TNF-ɑ) and due to the presence of comorbid pathology. There are no Russian data on the course of COVID-19 in elderly patients with IIRDs.

Objectives

To study the features of the course of COVID-19 in elderly patients with IIRDs.

Methods

The study included 93 patients with IIRDs: 72 women, 21 men, average age 67.5±6.1 years. Of them, 62 patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, 9 - systemic sclerosis, 5 - ankylosing spondylitis, 4 - Sjogren’s disease, 4 - systemic vasculitis, 3 - psoriatic arthritis, 2 - osteoarthritis, 1 - systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 - polymyositis, 1 - rheumatic polymyalgia, 1 - gout. At the moment of COVID-19, 10 patients had high activity of IIRDs, 26 - moderate, 40 - low, 17 - remission. 69 patients were treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs-DMARDs (40 - methotrexate, 12 - leflunomide, 8 - sulfasalazine, 7 - hydroxychloroquine), 45 - glucocorticoids (34 - low doses, 11 - medium or high doses). 36 patients received biologic or target DMARDs: 24 - rituximab (the interval from the last administration to the development of COVID-19 symptoms averaged 7 months), 4 – TNF-α inhibitors, 3 - abatacept, 2 - secukinumab, 1 - tofacitinib, 1 - baricitinib, 1 - ustekinumab. Comorbidities included hypertension (n=74), coronary artery disease (n=27), obesity (n=17), diabetes mellitus (n=8), bronchial asthma (n=5), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=4), chronic kidney disease (n=3). The patients were interviewed by a research doctor, additional information was obtained from medical documentation.

Results

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were fever - 67.7%, weakness/drowsiness - 53.7%, cough - 48.4%, as well as anosmia and dyspnea - 35.5% each, headache - 20.4%, body aches - 16.1%, congestion nose - 8.6%, chest pain - 7.5%, dysgeusia - 5.4%, diarrhea/vomiting - 3.2%. According to CT chest scan, 8 patients had 0% of lung damage, 31 - 25%, 32 - 50%, 12 - 75%, in other cases the study was not carried out (n=9) or data are not available (n=1). In 2 patients the course of COVID-19 was complicated by bacterial pneumonia, in 1 - bacterial-fungal. An asymptomatic course was noted only in 2 patients (PCR+/IgM +, CT 0, close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19). Recovery was noted in 90 patients, fatal outcome - in 3. Exacerbation of IIRDs after COVID-19 was noted in 48.4% of patients, which required intensifying antirheumatic therapy.

Conclusion

Preliminary data indicate that COVID-19 is characterized by moderate and severe course in elderly patients with IIRDs. Further studies are required to identify risk factors for severe course and complications in order to provide timely qualified care.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB1129 SAFETY OF VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19 IN PATIENTS WITH SPONDYLOARTHRITIS (PRELIMINARY DATA)

Background

Patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) probably have a high incidence of COVID-19. Vaccination remains one of the most effective methods of preventing infectious diseases. However, data on the safety of vaccines against COVID-19 in patients with SpA are few and relate to foreign vaccines that are not licensed in Russia.

Objectives

To study the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with SpA in real clinical practice.

Methods

The study included 47 SpA patients (25 - ankylosing spondylitis, 13 - psoriatic arthritis, 9 - undifferentiated SpA, 19 women, 28 men, age 42.3±11.6 years, duration of the disease 11.8±9.2 years) - the main group and 97 people without any immuno-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (67 women, 30 men, age 43.7±13.1 years) - the control group. 20 patients received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (12 - methotrexate, 8 - sulfasalazine), 10 - biological drugs (8 – TNF-ɑ inhibitors, 2 - IL-17 inhibitors), 6 - glucocorticoids, 1 - tofacitinib, 12 - only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 8 - did not receive therapy. In the main group, 40 patients were vaccinated with Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), 3 – CoviVac and Sputnik Light, 1 – EpiVacCorona (both components of the vaccine were received by 44 patients). In the control group 69 were vaccinated with Sputnik V, 15 - CoviVac, 5 - Sputnik Light and BNT162b2, 2 - EpiVacCorona, 1 - mRNA-1273. (91 participants received both components of the vaccine). All participants were interviewed by a research doctor with a unified questionnaire, additional information was obtained from medical documentation.

Results

The data obtained are reflected in the Table 1. Local adverse events (AEs) occurred relatively less frequently in patients with SpA than in the control group. After the introduction of the first component of the vaccine, there was a significant increase in the frequency of pain without restriction of movement and edema/hyperemia in the control group (p<0.001 and p=0.049, respectively), while after the introduction of the second component, a significant difference was registered only for the first indicated symptom (p<0.001). The most frequent systemic AEs were weakness, fever, arthralgia or myalgia, headache, and chills, which were significantly less common (p=0.008) in the main group after immunization with the first component. The proportion of SpA patients without any reactions was significantly higher after the introduction of the first component of the vaccine (59.6% and 29.9%, p<0.001), while after immunity with the second component there were no differences (59.1% and 44.0%, p>0.05). After complete immunization, the percentage of patients without any AEs was significantly higher in the main group than in the control (50.0% and 17.6%, p<0.001). There was no exacerbation of SpA or development of new autoimmune phenomena in the main group after full vaccination.

Table 1.

The frequency of AEs in SpA patients and in control

The first componentpThe second componentpSpA, n=47Control,n=97SpA, n=44Control,n=91n%n%n%n%Local AEsPain w/r movement*24.33839.2<0.00124.53235.2<0.001Pain w/r movement**510.61010.3>0.0549.144.4>0.05Edema or hyperemia12.11414.40.04936.81314.3>0.05Systemic AEsWeakness1327.73637.1>0.051125.02325.3>0.05Temperature >37.0ºC1327.73334.0>0.05920.52123.1>0.05Myalgia/Arthralgia612.82222.7>0.05613.61415.4>0.05Headache510.61111.3>0.05613.666.6>0.05Chills12.12020.60.00836.855.5>0.05Nausea/vomiting12.122.1>0.050011.1-Other12.11010.3>0.050044.4-

Notes: * - pain at the injection site without restriction of limb movement, ** - pain at the injection site with restriction of limb movement

Conclusion

According to preliminary data, the tolerability of vaccines against COVID-19 in patients with SpA is satisfactory. Further studies with an increased sample are needed to study the safety, immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of immunization against COVID-19 in patients of this cohort.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0903 CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF COXITIS IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (AS) TREATED WITH TNF-ALPHA INHIBITOR GOLIMUMAB: RESULTS OF A 24-MONTHS OBSERVATION (GO-COX STUDY)

Background:

Coxitis (hip joint inflammation) in AS is associated with worse BASFI scores due to hip joint involvement and more severe axial disease [1]. Radiological index of BASRI-hip, US and MRI findings may be used for evaluation of hip joint impairment [2, 3, 4]. Number of studies on coxitis in AS patients treated with biologics was limited at time of this study initiation.

Objectives:

To evaluate clinical changes measured by BASFI, BASMI, BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP and radiological changes in AS patients with coxitis (BASRI-hip, hip MRI [STIR- and T1-weighted sequences], hip US) after 12 and 24 months of treatment with TNF alpha inhibitor golimumab from baseline.

Methods:

A non-interventional prospective cohort study. Bio-naïve patients with AS and coxitis were treated with golimumab according to daily clinical practice in 5 clinics across Russia and followed up for 24 months. 39 patients participated. This analysis includes data from 30 patients who completed the follow up. The whole cohort’s data to be presented after consolidation of safety data. MRI and US data were collected for 12 months in up to 28 of 30 patients. The primary endpoint was mean change of BASFI which was expected to be -2.5 (± 2.12) from baseline at week 52 weeks (12 months) of therapy [5]. The power of the study was 90% with minimum sample size of 18 patients. Student’s paired t-criteria, Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare quantitave and Chi-square test for qualitative variables.

Results:

Majority of participants (66,7%; 20 out of 30) were male, with mean (SD) age of 33.2 (9.4) years, mean (SD) duration of AS was 36.2 (42.1) months, mean (SD) duration of coxitis was 36.9 (44.1) months. Baseline mean (SD) scores were: BASFI 3.9 (2.5), BASMI 3.1 (2.5), BASDAI 4.9 (2.0), ASDAS-CRP 3.5 (1.2). Changes of mean clinical scores from baseline after 12 and 24 months of treatment with golimumab were: ΔBASFI= -2.2 (p=0.0001), -2.1 (p=0.0000); ΔBASMI= -1.5 (p=0.0000), -1,8 (p=0.0000); ΔBASDAI= -3.0 (p=0.0000), -3.1 (p=0.0000); ΔASDAS-CRP= -2.0 (p=0.0000), -2.1 (p=0.0000), correspondingly (n=30). The clinical results (medians, interquartile ranges, min and max) are presented below.

Baseline mean (SD)/median BASRI-hip was 1.1 (0.8)/1.0 on the right and on the left. Changes of mean/median BASRI-hip score at 12 and 24 months compared to baseline were: 0.3/0.0 (n=25; p=0.2344) and 0.3/0.0 (n=25; p=0.1368) on the right; 0.4/0.0 (n=25; p=0.0352) and 0.4/1.0 (n=25; p=0.0735) on the left. Rates of patients with MRI and US findings are presented below.

HipMRI, paired analysisPatients (%), n=27Patients (%), n=23BaselineAt 6 monthsBaselineAt 12 monthsRightNo findings33.348.139.156.5Subchondral bone marrow edema (SBME)37.011.134.88.7Joint effusion74.125.9*73.917.4*Enthesitis33.311.134.821.7Fatty degeneration37.055.634.852.2LeftNo findings29.651.930.452.2SBME18.53.78.74.3Joint effusion63.022.2*60.921.7Enthesitis22.218.517.421.7Fatty degeneration33.355.630.452.2HipUS, paired analysisPatients (%), n=28Patients (%), n=27BaselineAt 6 monthsBaselineAt 12 monthsRightNo findings14.350.0*18.551.9*Joint effusion46.425.051.911.1*Enthesitis25.014.318.514.8LeftNo findings14.350.0*18.555.6*Joint effusion42.928.648.125.9Enthesitis17.917.911.118.5

*p<0.05

Conclusion:

Therapy with TNF alpha inhibitor golimumab for 24 months in AS patients with coxitis was accompanied with statistically significant improvement of clinical scores with primary endpoint achieved (mean BASFI change -2.5 at 12 months), improvement of MRI and US findings without obvious structural progression measured with BASRI-hip score compared to baseline.

References:

[1]Cruyssen B.V. et al. Rheumatology 2010; 49: 73-81.

[2]Boonen A. et al. J Rheumatol 2009; 36; 1249-1255.

[3]Cruyssen B.V. et al. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2013, 25: 448-454.

[4]Zhen-Guo H. et al. European Journal of Radiology 82 (2013) 1487-1493.

[5]Konsta et al. Clin Rheumatol (2013) 32:1229-1232.Braun J. et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2012; 71: 661–667.

Disclosure of Interests:

Shandor Erdes Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (MSD, Pfizer, AbbVie, BIOCAD), Ekaterina Agafonova Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (MSD)., Daria Rumiantceva Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (Novartis), Satenik Davidian: None declared, Elena Zemerova Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (MSD, Pfizer), Aleksey Kulikov Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (MSD, AbbVie, UCB, BIOCAD, Novartis, Sanofi), Olga Markova Speakers bureau: Paid as a speaker during educational activities supported by pharmaceutical companies (MSD, Novartis, Medac, GSK), Ekaterina Lukyanova Employee of: MSD Pharmaceutical LLC (Russia), Director of Medical Affairs., Vladimir Achikyan Employee of: MSD Pharmaceutical LLC (Russia), Therapeutic Area Lead

P4466Empagliflozin improves heart function after myocardial infarction in the rat

Background

Selective Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition with Empagliflozin reduced progression of left ventricular dysfunction and improved tolerance of physical exercise in heart failure by normoglycemic rats. Here, we hypothesized that Empagliflozin prevents cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI).

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate whether Empagliflozin protects the heart in the early phase after experimental MI in normoglycemic rats.

Methods

MI was induced in Wistar rats via permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Treatment with Empagliflozin (1 mg/kg/daily per os) was started after MI and continued for 7 days. Sham operated and vehicle treated animals served as controls (n=8). Hemodynamic parameters were measured via transthoracic echocardiography and intracardiac Samba catheter. Glucose concentration was determined in serum and urine. Protein expression of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1), sodium bicarbonate co-transporter (NBC), Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), Smad2 in the left ventricle were also studied. Additionally, NHE-1 regulation was investigated in cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2.

Results

Systolic heart function was improved in Empagliflozin treated MI animals compared to vehicle as demonstrated by Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) (20,9% vs. 16,6%; p<0.05). E/A ratio was decreased by tendency and blood pressure was not affected. Ejection fraction (p<0.05), fractional shortening (p<0.05), stroke volume (p<0.01) were increased in Empagliflozin treated control rats as compared with the sham group. Moreover, application of Empagliflozin (1mg/kg, i.v. bolus) to healthy rats in 30 min increased maximal pressure in the left ventricle as compared with vehicle (110,5±15,3 mmHg vs 79,1±11,9 mmHg; p<0.05). Parallel, dP/dtmax was increased while dP/dtmin was decreased by tendency. Empagliflozin treatment did not affect glucose concentration in serum and urine. Treatment of cardiac H9c2 cells with Empagliflozin (1μM) down-regulated NHE-1 by 27%.

Conclusion

SGLT2 inhibitor Empagliflozin improved systolic function in the early phase post MI independently from glucose regulation. The cardioprotective mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors may involve cardiac NHE-1 exchanger inhibition.

First Measurement of a Long-Lived π^{+}π^{-} Atom Lifetime

The adapted DIRAC experiment at the CERN PS accelerator observed for the first time long-lived hydrogenlike π^{+}π^{-} atoms, produced by protons hitting a beryllium target. A part of these atoms crossed the gap of 96 mm between the target and a 2.1  μm thick platinum foil, in which most of them dissociated. Analyzing the observed number of atomic pairs, n_{A}^{L}=436_{-61}^{+157}|_{tot}, the lifetime of the 2p state is found to be τ_{2p}=(0.45_{-0.30}^{+1.08}|_{tot})×10^{-11}  s, not contradicting the corresponding QED 2p state lifetime τ_{2p}^{QED}=1.17×10^{-11}  s. This lifetime value is three orders of magnitude larger than our previously measured value of the π^{+}π^{-} atom ground state lifetime τ=(3.15_{-0.26}^{+0.28}|_{tot})×10^{-15}  s. Further studies of long-lived π^{+}π^{-} atoms will allow us to measure energy differences between p and s atomic states and so to discriminate between the isoscalar and isotensor ππ scattering lengths with the aim to check QCD predictions.

Phase Locking the Spin Precession in a Storage Ring

This Letter reports the successful use of feedback from a spin polarization measurement to the revolution frequency of a 0.97  GeV/c bunched and polarized deuteron beam in the Cooler Synchrotron (COSY) storage ring in order to control both the precession rate (≈121  kHz) and the phase of the horizontal polarization component. Real time synchronization with a radio frequency (rf) solenoid made possible the rotation of the polarization out of the horizontal plane, yielding a demonstration of the feedback method to manipulate the polarization. In particular, the rotation rate shows a sinusoidal function of the horizontal polarization phase (relative to the rf solenoid), which was controlled to within a 1 standard deviation range of σ=0.21  rad. The minimum possible adjustment was 3.7 mHz out of a revolution frequency of 753 kHz, which changes the precession rate by 26  mrad/s. Such a capability meets a requirement for the use of storage rings to look for an intrinsic electric dipole moment of charged particles.

Observation of π^{-}K^{+} and π^{+}K^{-} Atoms

The observation of hydrogenlike πK atoms, consisting of π^{-}K^{+} or π^{+}K^{-} mesons, is presented. The atoms are produced by 24  GeV/c protons from the CERN PS accelerator, interacting with platinum or nickel foil targets. The breakup (ionization) of πK atoms in the same targets yields characteristic πK pairs, called "atomic pairs," with small relative momenta Q in the pair center-of-mass system. The upgraded DIRAC experiment observed 349±62 such atomic πK pairs, corresponding to a signal of 5.6 standard deviations. This is the first statistically significant observation of the strange dimesonic πK atom.

How to Reach a Thousand-Second in-Plane Polarization Lifetime with 0.97-GeV/c Deuterons in a Storage Ring

We observe a deuteron beam polarization lifetime near 1000 s in the horizontal plane of a magnetic storage ring (COSY). This long spin coherence time is maintained through a combination of beam bunching, electron cooling, sextupole field corrections, and the suppression of collective effects through beam current limits. This record lifetime is required for a storage ring search for an intrinsic electric dipole moment on the deuteron at a statistical sensitivity level approaching 10^{-29}  e cm.

New Method for a Continuous Determination of the Spin Tune in Storage Rings and Implications for Precision Experiments

A new method to determine the spin tune is described and tested. In an ideal planar magnetic ring, the spin tune-defined as the number of spin precessions per turn-is given by ν(s)=γG (γ is the Lorentz factor, G the gyromagnetic anomaly). At 970  MeV/c, the deuteron spins coherently precess at a frequency of ≈120  kHz in the Cooler Synchrotron COSY. The spin tune is deduced from the up-down asymmetry of deuteron-carbon scattering. In a time interval of 2.6 s, the spin tune was determined with a precision of the order 10^{-8}, and to 1×10^{-10} for a continuous 100 s accelerator cycle. This renders the presented method a new precision tool for accelerator physics; controlling the spin motion of particles to high precision is mandatory, in particular, for the measurement of electric dipole moments of charged particles in a storage ring.

Observation of an "ABC" Effect in proton-proton collisions

The cross section for inclusive multipion production in the pp-->ppX reaction was measured at COSY-ANKE at four beam energies, 0.8, 1.1, 1.4, and 2.0 GeV, for low excitation energy in the final pp system, such that the diproton quasiparticle is in the 1S0 state. At the three higher energies, the missing-mass M_{X} spectra show a strong enhancement at low M_{X}, corresponding to an Abashian-Booth-Crowe effect that moves steadily to larger values as the energy is increased. Despite the missing-mass structure looking very different at 0.8 GeV, the variation with M_{X} and beam energy are consistent with two-pion production being mediated through the excitation of two Delta(1232) isobars, coupled to S and D states of the initial pp system. There is no sign of any resonancelike structure in the energy dependence of the type recently observed for the pn-->dpi;{0}pi;{0} total cross section.

Measurement of the e;{+}e;{-}-->bb[over ] Cross Section between sqrt[s]=10.54 and 11.20 GeV

We report e;{+}e;{-}-->bb[over ] cross section measurements by the BABAR experiment performed during an energy scan in the range of 10.54 to 11.20 GeV at the SLAC PEP-II e;{+}e;{-} collider. A total relative error of about 5% is reached in more than 300 center-of-mass energy steps, separated by about 5 MeV. These measurements can be used to derive precise information on the parameters of the Upsilon(10860) and Upsilon(11020) resonances. In particular we show that their widths may be smaller than previously measured.

Observation of inverse diproton photodisintegration at intermediate energies

The fundamental reaction pp-->{pp}_{s}gamma, where {pp}_{s} is a proton pair with low excitation energy, has been observed with the ANKE spectrometer at COSY-Jülich for proton beam energies of T_{p}=0.353, 0.500, and 0.550 GeV. This is equivalent to photodisintegration of a free 1S0 diproton for photon energies E_{gamma} approximately T_{p}/2. The differential cross sections measured for c.m. angles 0 degrees <theta_{pp}<20 degrees exhibit a steep increase with angle that is compatible with E1 and E2 multipole contributions. The ratio of the measured cross sections to those of np-->gammad is on the 10;{-3}-10;{-2} level. The increase of the pp-->{pp}_{s}gamma cross section with T_{p} might reflect the influence of the Delta(1232) excitation.

Observation of the bottomonium ground state in the decay Upsilon(3S)-->gammaetab

We report the results of a search for the bottomonium ground state etab(1S) in the photon energy spectrum with a sample of (109+/-1) million of Upsilon(3S) recorded at the Upsilon(3S) energy with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B factory at SLAC. We observe a peak in the photon energy spectrum at Egamma=921.2(-2.8)+2.1(stat)+/-2.4(syst) MeV with a significance of 10 standard deviations. We interpret the observed peak as being due to monochromatic photons from the radiative transition Upsilon(3S)-->gammaetab(1S). This photon energy corresponds to an etab(1S) mass of 9388.9(-2.3)+3.1(stat)+/-2.7(syst) MeV/c2. The hyperfine Upsilon(1S)-etab(1S) mass splitting is 71.4(-3.1)+2.3(stat)+/-2.7(syst) MeV/c2. The branching fraction for this radiative Upsilon(3S) decay is estimated to be [4.8+/-0.5(stat)+/-1.2(syst)]x10(-4).

Measurement of the analyzing power in p-->d-->(p p)n with a fast forward 1S0 proton pair

A measurement of the analyzing power A(y) of the p-->d--> (p p) + n reaction was carried out at the ANKE spectrometer at COSY at beam energies of 0.5 and 0.8 GeV by detection of a fast forward proton pair of small excitation energy E(pp) < 3 MeV. The S-wave dominance in the fast diproton is experimentally demonstrated in this reaction. While at T(p) = 0.8 GeV the measured analyzing power almost vanishes, it rises to nearly unity at T(p) = 0.5 GeV for neutrons emitted at theta(c.m.)(n) = 167 degrees. The results are compared with a model taking into account one-nucleon exchange, single scattering, and Delta(1232) excitation in the intermediate state. The model describes fairly well the unpolarized cross section obtained earlier and the analyzing power at 0.8 GeV; it fails to reproduce A(y) at 0.5 GeV.

Effects of experimental hypothyroidism on 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A receptors, 5-HT uptake sites and tryptophan hydroxylase activity in mature rat brain1

The study was aimed at investigating the repercussions of deficiency in thyroid function with and without thyroid hormone (TH) replacement on the neurochemical entities which underly serotonin (5-HT) neutrotransmission, namely 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A receptors, 5-HT transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the mature brain. Surgically thyroidectomized male Wistar rats received: (1) an iodine-free diet to produce severe hypothyroidism; (2) hormonal replacement with 15 microgram/kg/day of thyroxine (T4) for 21 days to normalize serum TH levels, or (3) hormonal replacement with 200 microgram/kg/day of T4 for 14 days to produce an excess of circulating THs. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Neither hypothyroidism nor an excess in serum TH levels affected 3H-8-OH-DPAT binding to 5-HT1A receptors, 3H-citalopram binding to 5-HT transporter and TPH activity in various brain structures indicating that, in the mature brain, the presynaptic entities of 5-HT neurotransmission are resistant to large variations in TH levels. By contrast, hypothyroid rats had a significant decrease in Bmax of 3H-ketanserin binding to cortical 5-HT2A receptors compared to controls. Cortical 3H-ketanserin binding in thyroidectomized rats was normalized after replacement with low-dose T4. Excess serum TH levels in thyroidectomized rats did not produce any changes in cortical 5-HT2A receptors when compared to thyroidectomized rats with normalized TH levels. The present data suggest that the decrease in cortical 5-HT2A receptors is the main neurochemical event underlying the impairing effect of hypothyroidism on 5-HT neurotransmission.

A new family of genes which, when mutated, suppress the inhibitory effect of the mod(mdg4)1u1 mutation on y2 expression in Drosophila melanogaster

The suppressor of Hairy-wing [su(Hw)] protein inhibits the function of transcriptional enhancers located distal to the promoter with respect to the location of su(Hw)-binding sites (insulation). Mutations in the modifier of mdg4 [mod(mdg4)] interfere with insulation and enhance the effect of the su(Hw)-binding region inserted in the y2 mutation by inhibiting the function of regulatory elements located on both sides of the su(Hw)-binding region. From P-M hybrid dysgenic crosses, 21 mutations that suppress the negative effect of the mod(mdg4)1u1 mutation on the y2 allele were obtained among 47,000 flies scored. These Su(mg) mutations have a dominant suppressor effect and map to at least 13 different loci. Some of Su(mg) mutations also suppress the effect of mod(mdg4)1u1 on two other gypsy-induced mutations, scD1 and ct6. Most of Su(mg) mutations do not affect the viability or fertility of homozygous flies. We speculate that the Su(mg) genes represent a new family of redundant regulatory genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

Experimental hypothyroidism increases immobility in rats in the forced swim paradigm

Effects of severe and mild hypothyroidism on the immobile response to inescapable stress were examined in male Wistar rats using the forced swim paradigm. Rats were exposed to two sessions of inescapable swim stress: pretest (for 15 min) followed by test (for 5 min) 24 h later. Surgically thyroidectomized rats showed a significant increase (by 90%) in immobility during test compared to sham rats. Chronic administration of high (200 micrograms/kg per day) but not low (15 micrograms/kg per day) dose of T4 prevented the increase in immobility in thyroidectomized rats. Normal rats submitted to iodine-free diet for 2 weeks in order to produce a mild hypothyroidism showed a significant increase (by 60%) in immobility time during test compared to control rats. The results indicate that hypothyroid rats are more vulnerable to inescapable stress than normothyroid rats.

Repeated DOI and SR 46349B treatments do not affect elevated plus-maze anxiety despite opposite effects on cortical 5-HT2A receptors

We report the consequences of a 4-day treatment (b.i.d) with the 5-HT2A,2B,2C receptor agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI, 1.5 mg/kg) or the selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist trans-4-[(3Z)3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)oxyimino-3-(2-fluorophe nyl)propen-1-yl]phenol hemifumarate (SR 46349B, 7.5 mg/kg) on (i) anxiety-related behaviour in an elevated plus-maze, and (ii) specific [3H]ketanserin binding at central 5-HT2A receptors, in Roman rats. Neither DOI nor SR 46349B pretreatment affected the behaviour in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze; however, DOI pretreatment promoted discrete changes in the closed arm entries. The Bmax value of [3H]ketanserin binding at cortical 5-HT2A receptors was decreased by repeated DOI pretreatment. Conversely, Bmax, but also KD, values were increased by SR 46349B pretreatment. Thus, changes at central 5-HT2A receptors may occur without there being changes in anxiety-related behaviour in the elevated plus-maze.

Central serotonergic systems in the spontaneously hypertensive and Lewis rat strains that differ in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety

The spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Lewis (LEW) strains differ in numerous behavioral tests, including the elevated plus-maze. In keeping with the crucial role of central serotonin (5-HT) in anxiety, we checked for strain differences regarding several determinants of 5-HT activity. In addition to confirming that LEW rats displayed anxious behaviors in the plus-maze compared with SHR, we found that in vitro, central tryptophan hydroxylase activity was higher in LEW rats than in SHR. However, ex vivo studies in midbrains and hippocampi revealed that neither 5-HT synthesis nor 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels differed between strains. [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-pro-pylamino)tetralin binding at midbrain 5-HT1A autoreceptors and hippocampal 5-HT1A postsynaptic receptors, [3H]ketanserin binding at cortical and striatal 5-HT2A receptors and [3H]citalopram binding at midbrain and hippocampal 5-HT transporters did not vary between strains. The inhibition of 5-HT synthesis by 5-HT1A autoreceptor stimulation was similar in both strains. Forepaw treading and flat body posture after 5-HT1A postsynaptic receptor stimulation were higher and lower, respectively, in SHR than in LEW rats. Last, 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-aminopropane- and quipazine-elicited head shakes, a 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response, were increased in the SHR strain compared with the LEW strain; on the other hand, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine triggered similar 5-HT2B/2C receptor-mediated decreases in motor activity in the two strains. This study shows that although the low-anxiety (SHR) and high-anxiety (LEW) strains vary in some aspects of 5-HT function, key components such as the 5-HT1A autoreceptors are not different.

Effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone replacement on diurnal [3H]citalopram binding in rat midbrain

Corticosteroids modulate the expression and/or functions of several serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) receptors. Conversely, analyses of the effects of corticosteroids upon 5-HT reuptake systems have been scarce and contradictory. Herein, the diurnal rhythm of midbrain [3H]citalopram binding to 5-HT transporters was analysed in sham and 11 day adrenalectomised rats. In addition, adrenalectomised rats were either complemented or not with corticosterone pellets (12.5-200 mg). Analyses of body weight increases and plasma adrenocorticotropic and corticosterone levels indicated that the protocol allowed the stimulation of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs; 12.5 mg pellets) or the stimulation of both MRs and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs; 50-200 mg pellets). However, besides the observation of a slight, but significant diurnal (corticosteroid-independent) rhythm in 5-HT transporter binding (morning > evening), it was found that neither adrenalectomy nor corticosteroid receptor stimulation affected midbrain [3H]citalopram binding.

Interactions between cut wing mutations and mutations in zeste, and the enhancer of yellow and Polycomb group genes of Drosophila melanogaster

The phenotypic expression of several mutations in the cut locus of Drosophila melanogaster is modified by mutations in the zeste, e(y)2 and e(y)3 genes and in some genes of the Polycomb group. All tested sensitive cut mutations have a partially inactivated cut wing enhancer. e(y)3u1, Zv77h and Su(z)2(5) mutations enhance, while e(y)2u1, ZOp6, PSC1, Su(z)301, Su(z)302 and ScmD1 mutations suppress the ct mutant phenotype. The results are discussed in terms of the role of long-distance interactions and DNA compaction in transcriptional control of the cut locus.

Cerebral tryptophan hydroxylase activity, and 5-HT1A receptor, 5-HT2A receptor, and 5-HT transporter binding in grouped and isolated Roman RHA and RLA rats: relationships with behaviours in two models of anxiety

Male Roman low-(RLA) and high-avoidance (RHA) rats differ when tested in the elevated plus-maze and the black/white box, but not when (isolated and) tested for their social interaction. Herein, we have analysed the impact of prior isolation on male Roman rats tested in the first two models of anxiety; moreover, because central serotonin (5-HT) systems in Roman rats have been scarcely studied, we have also analysed several anxiety-related indices of central serotonergic activity in grouped/isolated Roman rats. Group-housed RLA rats tested in the elevated plus-maze and the black/white box were less anxious than their RHA counterparts, thereby confirming our previous study. Isolation had anxiogenic (and hypolocomotor) effects, these being significant in RLA rats only. Tryptophan hydroxylase activity in midbrain (but not in cortex, hippocampus or hypothalamus) was lower in group-housed (but not in isolated) RLA rats than in RHA rats, a difference independent from changes in the regulatory properties of the enzyme. Neither midbrain and hippocampal [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetrlin binding at 5-HT1A receptors, nor midbrain [3H] citalopram binding at the 5-HT transporter was different between grouped/isolated RHA/RLA rats. Alternatively, a trend toward a lower hypothalamic [3H]citalopram binding in (group-housed) RLA rats than in RHA rats could be noted, whereas cortical [3H]ketanserin binding at 5-HT2A receptors was lower in RLA rats than in RHA rats, a difference prevented by prior isolation. This study opens the possibility that inter-line differences in 5-HT2A receptors partly (or totally) underlie the respective behaviours of RHA and RLA rats in the elevated plus-maze and the black/white box.

Male Fischer 344 and Lewis rats display differences in locomotor reactivity, but not in anxiety-related behaviours: relationship with the hippocampal serotonergic system

Recent studies have shown that arthritis-susceptible Lewis female rats display a marked hypoactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and decreased concentrations of hippocampal serotonin receptors (5-HT1A), when compared with arthritis-resistant Fischer 344 female rats. Although previous studies have suggested that these inter-strain differences may extend to several behaviours, the hypothesis that Fischer 344 and Lewis differ in their anxiety and locomotor scores when placed in novel environments has been only scarcely tested. The present study has thus analysed the behaviours of male Fischer 344 and Lewis rats placed successively in activity cages, in an open field (low and high aversive conditions), and in two animal models of anxiety (the elevated plus-maze, the black/white box). Moreover, because the present study was conducted with male rats, we have also checked whether the HPA axis- and 5-HT1A receptor-related differences previously described between female Fischer 344 and Lewis rats extended to males. Under basal conditions: (i) activity of the HPA axis; and (ii) hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor binding and activity of tryptophan hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT biosynthesis) were decreased in Lewis rats, compared with Fischer 344 rats. In addition, the response of the HPA axis to a mild stress (10 min in a novel environment) was lower in Lewis rats than in Fischer 344. When placed in activity cages, Lewis rats displayed a lower locomotor activity, compared with Fischer 344 rats. In the open-field, Lewis rats cross a lower number of inner squares and groomed less than Fischer 344 rats. In the elevated plus-maze and in the black/white box, Fischer 344 and Lewis rats exhibited similar 'anxious' profiles as none of the rats visited the open arms (elevated plus-maze) and the white compartment (black/white box). This study, which extends earlier neurochemical and neuroendocrine findings in females, suggests that both strains display high levels of anxiety but markedly differ in their locomotor activities. Whether the latter strain difference is due to alterations in the HPA axis and/or the central serotonergic systems is an issue that remains to be explored.

Haem localization in haemoproteins by spin and triplet tools

The rate constants of efficient exchange interaction (kex) of spin-labelled lysozyme and the triplet probes perylene, eosine and anthracene butanoic acid with the haemoproteins were measured in microsomes and in solution by electron paramagnetic resonance and by the registration of delayed annihilation fluorescence. Constants of efficient exchange interactions with the haem groups of myoglobin, haemoglobin, cytochrome c and b5 are 3-22 X 10(7) M-1 s-1 in solution. The experiments with membrane-bound cytochrome P-450 revealed no exchange interactions with the probes located in solution or in the membrane. These results can be accounted for by the deeper incorporation of cytochrome P-450 haem into the protein globule as compared to the other haemoprotein haems studied.