Double-pulsed wave packets in spontaneous radiation from a tandem undulator

We verify that each wave packet of spontaneous radiation from two undulators placed in series has a double-pulsed temporal profile with pulse spacing which can be controlled at the attosecond level. Using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer operating at ultraviolet wavelengths, we obtain the autocorrelation trace for the spontaneous radiation from the tandem undulator. The results clearly show that the wave packet has a double-pulsed structure, consisting of a pair of 10-cycle oscillations with a variable separation. We also report the characterization of the time delay between the double-pulsed components in different wavelength regimes. The excellent agreement between the independent measurements confirms that a tandem undulator can be used to produce double-pulsed wave packets at arbitrary wavelength.

Association of NAD (P) H Quinine Oxidoreductase 1 rs1800566 Polymorphism with Bladder and Prostate Cancers - a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Number of studies has been performed to investigate the association of NAD (P) H quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) rs1800566 polymorphism with risk of bladder and prostate cancers, but presented inconsistent results. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive data on the association of NQO1 rs1800566 polymorphism with bladder and prostate cancers.

METHODS

All eligible studies were identified in PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases before June 01, 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 22 case-control studies including 15 studies with 4,413 cases and 4,275 controls on bladder cancer and 7 studies with 762 cases and 1,813 controls on prostate cancer were selected. Overall, pooled data showed that the NQO1 rs1800566 polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer (T vs. C: OR 1.300; 95% CI 1.112-1.518; P = 0.001; TT vs. CC: OR 1.415; 95% CI 1.084-1.847; P = 0.011; TC vs. CC: OR 1.389; 95% CI 1.111-1.738; P = 0.004; TT + TC vs. CC: OR 1.428; 95% CI 1.145-1.782; P = 0.002) and prostate cancer (TC vs. CC: OR 1.276; 95% CI 1.047-1.555; P = 0.016; TT + TC vs. CC: OR 1.268; 95% CI 1.050-1.532; P = 0.014). The stratified analysis by ethnicity revealed an increased risk of bladder cancer among Caucasians and prostate cancer among Asians.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that the NQO1 rs1800566 polymorphism was significantly associated with increased risk of bladder and prostate cancers.

Melatonin as an adjuvant in radiotherapy for radioprotection and radiosensitization

It is estimated that more than half of cancer patients undergo radiotherapy during the course of their treatment. Despite its beneficial therapeutic effects on tumor cells, exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation (IR) is associated with several side effects. Although improvements in radiotherapy techniques and instruments could reduce these side effects, there are still important concerns for cancer patients. For several years, scientists have been trying to modulate tumor and normal tissue responses to IR, leading to an increase in therapeutic ratio. So far, several types of radioprotectors and radiosensitizers have been investigated in experimental studies. However, high toxicity of chemical sensitizers or possible tumor protection by radioprotectors creates a doubt for their clinical applications. On the other hand, the protective effects of these radioprotectors or sensitizer effects of radiosensitizers may limit some type of cancers. Hence, the development of some radioprotectors without any protective effect on tumor cells or low toxic radiosensitizers can help improve therapeutic ratio with less side effects. Melatonin as a natural body hormone is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that shows some anti-cancer properties. It is able to neutralize different types of free radicals produced by IR or pro-oxidant enzymes which are activated following exposure to IR and plays a key role in the protection of normal tissues. In addition, melatonin has shown the ability to inhibit long-term changes in inflammatory responses at different levels, thereby ameliorating late side effects of radiotherapy. Fortunately, in contrast to classic antioxidants, some in vitro studies have revealed that melatonin has a potent anti-tumor activity when used alongside irradiation. However, the mechanisms of its radiosensitive effect remain to be elucidated. Studies suggested that the activation of pro-apoptosis gene, such as p53, changes in the metabolism of tumor cells, suppression of DNA repair responses as well as changes in biosynthesis of estrogen in breast cancer cells are involved in this process. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms for radioprotection and radiosensitizer effects of melatonin. Furthermore, some other proposed mechanisms that may be involved are presented.

Comparison of various classifications for patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) using measurement of B-cell subsets

BACKGROUND

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disease, characterised by hypogammaglobulinaemia leading to recurrent infections and various complications. The aim of this study was to classify CVID patients based on four known classifications (Paris, Freiburg, EUROclass, and B-cell patterns) by measurement of B-cell subsets and to assess the relation of each classification with clinical manifestations.

METHODS

We measured all B-cell subsets as both absolute count and percentage in 30 CVID patients and 30 healthy individuals using four-colour flow cytometry. Moreover, we evaluated antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccine in patients.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in percentage of terminal B-cell subsets (total, marginal zone-like, switched memory, IgM-only memory, total memory B-cells and plasmablast) and absolute count of all B-cell subsets along with a strong increase in CD21^low B-cells has been observed in patients. Patients with splenomegaly and hepatomegaly clustered in group Ia, smB+21^low and group 1 based on known classifications, and significantly tended to have a decreased transitional and marginal zone-like B-cells count, as well as an increase in CD21^low B-cell counts. Patients with lymphadenopathy, bronchiectasis and allergy had a significant decrease in absolute count of total memory, switched memory and total B-cells, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Classification of patients could provide useful information to guide clinicians in long-term follow-up of CVID patients. Our data demonstrate that it may be more accurate to use absolute counts of B-cell subpopulations in CVID patients because absolute counts of B-cell subsets are more associated with clinical manifestations compared with their percentage and also four known classifications.

Relationship between leptin concentration and body fat with peripheral blood mononuclear cells cytokines among obese and overweight adults

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity has been suggested to be well correlated with altered levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

AIM

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship of body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP) and leptin levels with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cytokines among obese and overweight adults.

METHODS

Eighty-two overweight and obese individuals were divided into two BMI-category groups (BMI <30 and BMI ≥30 kg/m²) in this study. Balanced blocked randomization was used based on their sex and BMI ranges. Fasting blood samples, PBMCs cytokines, leptin and anthropometric indices were measured and PBMCs were cultured.

RESULTS

Mean of leptin concentrations were 23.14 ± 4.07 and 28.25 ± 4.35 pg/ml among individuals with BMI <30 and BMI ≥30 kg/m², respectively. The mean values of anthropometric measurements (all P < 0.001), the concentrations of TNF-α (P = 0.028) and IFN-γ (P = 0.029) were significantly higher among obese individuals. BFP had a significant positive correlation with leptin (P < 0.001, r = 0.445) and TGF-β (P = 0.03, r = 0.243). BFM has significant positive correlation with leptin (P < 0.001, r = 0.521). Leptin had a positive significant correlation with IFN-γ (p = 0.03, r = 0.251).

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding these results, we proved that BFP, BFM and leptin levels have significant correlations with some PBMC cytokines. Focusing on such strategies may lead to promises for alleviating obesity and its co-morbidities.

Stochastic nature of series of waiting times

Although fluctuations in the waiting time series have been studied for a long time, some important issues such as its long-range memory and its stochastic features in the presence of nonstationarity have so far remained unstudied. Here we find that the "waiting times" series for a given increment level have long-range correlations with Hurst exponents belonging to the interval 1/2<H<1. We also study positive-negative level asymmetry of the waiting time distribution. We find that the logarithmic difference of waiting times series has a short-range correlation, and then we study its stochastic nature using the Markovian method and determine the corresponding Kramers-Moyal coefficients. As an example, we analyze the velocity fluctuations in high Reynolds number turbulence and determine the level dependence of Markov time scales, as well as the drift and diffusion coefficients. We show that the waiting time distributions exhibit power law tails, and we were able to model the distribution with a continuous time random walk.

Myocardial capillary density in normal and diabetic male rats: Effect of bezafibrate

Cardiovascular disease is the common cause of mortality in diabetic subjects. Recently, it is indicated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) agonists have beneficial effect on cardiovascular system especially on angiogenesis. PPARs have three isotypes: PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. In this study, we evaluated the effect of bezafibrate as pan PPAR agonist on myocardial capillary density in type I diabetic rats. Eighteen male wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=6 each): control, diabetic and diabetic+bezafibrate (400 mg/kg/day) by gavage every day. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg), intraperitoneally. After 21 days, capillary density in the myocardial tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and reported as capillaries per mm(2). Blood samples were taken before and after the experiment. Diabetes was associated by lower serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration and reduced myocardial capillary density compared to control group (121.71 ± 13.32 vs. 158.78 ± 11.08 /mm(2); P<0.05). Administration of bezafibrate significantly increased serum NO level and improved angiogenesis in myocardial tissue of diabetic animals (170.24 ± 15.76 vs.121.71 ± 13.32 /mm(2); P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between serum NO concentration and myocardial capillary density (r=0.90). Activation of all isotypes of PPAR by bezafibrate improves heart capillary density in diabetic animals and it seems that it can be considered for treatment or prevention of coronary heart disease in diabetic subjects.

Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β agonist on angiogenesis in hindlimb ischemic diabetic rats

INTRODUCTION

Studies indicated that PPARβ agonists play a role in modulation of angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of specific PPARβ agonist, GW0742, on angiogenesis and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), and nitrite concentrations in hindlimb ischemia in normal and diabetic rats.

METHODS

Hindlimb ischemic rats were divided into four groups: control, diabetic, control, and diabetic treated with GW0742 (n=7 each). Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (55mg/kg, ip). GW0742 was injected 1day after surgery (1mg/kg, sc). After 21days, blood samples were taken, and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested for immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

GW0742 significantly increased serum nitrite and VEGFR-2 concentrations and VEGF-to-VEGFR-2 ratio in control and diabetic rats. Capillary density was lower in diabetic animals compared to the control, and GW0742 significantly restored the capillary density in the control and diabetic hindlimb ischemic rats.

CONCLUSION

PPARβ agonists restore skeletal muscle angiogenesis and can be considered for prevention and/or treatment of peripheral vascular complications in diabetic subjects.

The role of health environment and location in the emergence of urban criminal behaviours in tehran

BACKGROUND

Although, the roots of criminal behaviours clearly lie in social, economic, and cultural factors, the increase criminal offences in urban settings has raised the issue of prevention through urban environmental health, planning and design.

METHODS

The approach of the study was based on the scientific research methodology and indicators were compiled from observations and comparative analyses of those urban spaces that are most often the sites of crime.

RESULTS

Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that 37% of sampled males and 51% of females emphasized on effectiveness of environmental factors. The urban space observations show that the environmental and physical factors affect on security and sensation of community safety among the citizens.

CONCLUSION

Crime is committed in a particular place; place-related factors play a role in creating the potential for crimes to be committed. The results show the close bond between crimes and environmental problems.Recognition of the influence of location-specific characteristics and the correct environmental response may make it possible to prevent or at least reduce criminal acts in urban places.

Nationwide outbreak of listeriosis due to contaminated meat

We used molecular subtyping to investigate an outbreak of listeriosis involving residents of 24 US states. We defined a case as infection with Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b yielding one of several closely related patterns when subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Patients infected with strains yielding different patterns were used as controls. A total of 108 cases were identified with 14 associated deaths and four miscarriages or stillbirths. A case-control study implicated meat frankfurters as the likely source of infection (OR 17.3, 95% CI 2.4-160). The outbreak ended abruptly following a manufacturer-issued recall, and the outbreak strain was later detected in low levels in the recalled product. A second strain was recovered at higher levels but was not associated with human illness. Our findings suggest that L. monocytogenes strains vary widely in virulence and confirm that large outbreaks can occur even when only low levels of contamination are detected in sampled food. Standardized molecular subtyping and coordinated, multi-jurisdiction investigations can greatly facilitate detection and control of listeriosis outbreaks.

[Anesthesia for TUR procedures in the elderly]

Due to the increased life expectancy since the turn of the century also the urological interventions in patients of older age increased in number and thus in significance. Also when a smaller proportion of the TUR-interventions (in most cases only diagnostic measures) can be carried out in local anaesthesia, for the majority of cases a general anaesthesia or a central conduction anaesthesia is necessary. The particular characteristics of the anaesthesia in endovesical interventions, the pathophysiological peculiarities of the senium, the senile involution of the kidney, and a water and electrolyte balance often disturbed by urological complaints are among others the most important criteria which determine the choice of the anaesthesia in a senile patient when TUR-interventions are to be carried out. Based on an experience of many years, it is reported on the results of anaesthesia in 4,130 geriatric patients, among then 2,818 TUR-interventions. On account of the character of the TUR-interventions, of the age of the patient and the factors of risk even nowadays the central conduction anaesthesia, especially the spinal anaesthesia, is more often the method of choice.

[Special problems with anesthesia in urologic emergency surgery]

In the operative medicine the urological emergency interventions occupy a particular position. Apart from iatrogenic and/or emergency cases provoked by the external trauma, the life-threatening and urgent operations are very rare, in comparison to the other surgical disciplines. The maximum stress by anaesthesia of the urological emergency operations is, however, by far less and connected with considerable risks. In the analysis of 1,216 anaesthesias which were declared by the urologists as urgent operations it was shown that the frequency of anaesthesia accidents gradually increases from intact renal function up to uraemia and anuria. On account of less total stress in contraindications for the regional anaesthesia in urological emergency interventions the neuroleptanalgesia is to be preferred in comparison to the other anaesthesia methods.

[The current state of spinal anesthesia in urologic interventions]

It is reported on the experiences of several years in 9,400 spinal anaesthesias in the urology in patients at an advanced age. Still at present the spinal anaesthesia has a dominating position in the urological intervention. Despite modern and differenciated anaesthetic methods the importance of the spinal anaesthesia is by no means reduced for most urological interventions, particularly for the transurethral operation technique, but it rather increased during the last years by the new local anaesthetics, by the development of thinnest spinal needles, but also the increased knowledge of the dangers of general anaesthesia. In urological diagnostics and therapy the spinal anaesthesia has still its full right and is less toxic for the patient and has less severe complications than the general anaesthesia. However, prerequisites for its use are: a) mastery of technique b) full assent of the patient c) psychic guidance of the patient during the whole duration of the intervention and d) balanced pre-, intra- and postoperative substitution of the volume e) overcoming of the established opinion that the spinal anaesthesia has a particular depressing effect on circulation and frequently causes post-spinal headache.

[Experiences with ambulatory anesthesia in urology]

On the basis of more than 6000 cases is reported on the daily ambulatory practice in anaesthesia carried out on urological patients for several years. The problems and the necessity of the ambulatory anaesthesia, methods and experiences are discussed and it is referred to the errors and danger sources. Exact indication, better instruction of the patients and the parents (in children) on the consequence of the ambulatory anaesthesia, exact observation of the pre- and postoperative precautionary measures, strict organisation, choice of a suitable anaesthetic and adequate methods of anaesthesia are according to our experiences the most important prerequisites for a smooth course and an anaesthesia without complications in ambulatory surgical interventions.