The dose-dependent effect of chronic Verapamil treatment on cardiac function in isolated rat heart with Hypertension

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, is used for treatment of hypertension, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia  and angina pectoris. It primarily blocks L-type calcium channels preventing excessive influx of calcium into cardiomyocytes, leading to negative inotropic effect, and smooth muscle cells resulting in reduced relaxation of vasculature. With calcium antagonism it also causes negative chronotropic effect. However, there is no data on it’s dose-dependent effects on cardiac dynamic parameters and heart rate on isolated rat heart with hypertension.

Purpose

To investigate chronic, dose-dependent effects of Verapamil on cardiodynamic parameters in isolated rat heart with hypertension.

Methods

The present 4-week study was carried out on 24 spontaneously hypertensive Wistar Kyoto male rats  (6 weeks old): Control (n = 6), rats treated with 0.5 mg/kg/day of Verapamil (n = 6), rats treated with 5 mg/kg/day of Verapamil (n = 6) and rats treated with 50 mg/kg/day of Verapamil (n = 6). Isolated rat hearts were perfused on Langendorff perfusion apparatus.

Results

Chronic, low-dose Verapamil treatment significantly depressed function of all cardiodynamic parameters of the hypertensive heart when compared to the rats treated with higher doses of Verapamil (p < 0.001), except on the coronary flow and heart rate when compared to the Control (p= 0.137; p = 1.000, respectively). There was no significant differences between Verapamil in middle dose (5 mg/kg/day) and the Control group in inotropic (p = 0.415) and lusitropic (p = 1.000) effects, while it significantly lowered values of coronary flow (p = 0.002). It achieved significantly lower inotropic, lusitropic and chronotropic effects (p < 0.001) than high Verapamil dose and significantly better inotropic (p = 0.017), lusitropic (p < 0.001), but not chronotropic effects than low-dose Verapamil treatment (p = 0.179). High-dose, chronic treatment with Verapamil significantly intensified function of  the isolated rat heart with hypertension when compared to Control and lower doses of Verapamil (p < 0.001), without significant effects on coronary flow (p = 0.363).

Conclusions

Chronic treatment with Verapamil in high dose achieved better inotropic, chronotropic and lusitropic effects than treatment in low and middle doses of Verapamil, without significant effects on coronary flow. There is dose-depended effect of chronic Verapamil treatment on cardiac function of isolated rat heart with hypertension.

Allogeneic expanded adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas in Crohn's disease

AIM

Crohn's disease (CD)-related rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) are rare, challenging to treat and associated with a high morbidity. Due to a significant lack of data, we aimed to analyse the safety and feasibility of allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in the treatment of CD-related RVF.

METHOD

Four consecutive patients with CD-related RVF underwent treatment with expanded allogeneic ASCs extracted from a healthy donor in a tertiary referral centre in 2019. None of the patients had an intestinal diversion at the time of the treatment. Follow-up was performed 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The median operation time was 45 min with a median hospital stay of 3 days. No intra-operative complications occurred. Three patients (75%) developed recurrent RVF after a median follow-up of 19 days. Two patients required surgical treatment including loose seton drainage due to discharge and pain. One patient developed recurrence of symptoms after 10 days, but refused further surgical therapy. Only one patient (25%) showed healing of the RVF, with re-epithelialization of both the vaginal and rectal opening and absence of clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Expanded allogeneic ASC therapy represents a novel safe treatment option for CD-associated RVF. Although efficacy appears limited, further controlled studies are required to draw robust conclusions.

Use of dietary supplements among male fitness club members in Nis, Serbia

Background

Dietary supplements use continues to increase in many countries. They are often used without a full understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with their use, and without consultation with a health care professional. This study aimed to explore health beliefs and patterns of dietary supplement usage among fitness club participants.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in fitness clubs of the city of Nis, Serbia. Male adults, age 18-45 years, participated. Data from participants were collected through an original structured, self-administered questionnaire describes the prevalence and type of supplements used, the reasons for using and the information source.

Results

The prevalence of dietary supplement intake among participants was 85.86%. Most participants were between the age of 20 and 40 years, had a college degree (57.1%), non-smokers (80.5%), without chronic disease (86%), perform exercise at least thrice weekly (76.2%) and 63% had at least1 hour. The percentage of participants who had favorable health views on dietary supplements was significantly higher among the supplement users than among the non-users (P < 0.0001). Most participants (76.19%) perform exercise from 3 to 5 times weekly and 82.85% had from 1 to 2 hours exercise duration. The percentage of subjects who think supplements have side effects was significantly higher among the supplement non-users than among the users (p < 0 .05). Proteins (83.33%), amino acids (63.09%) and creatine (52.38%) were the most commonly reported supplements used. The places of buying dietary supplements most mentioned were specialized supplement store (78.57%), online (11.9%) and pharmacy (9.52%).

Conclusions

Male fitness club member are large consumers of dietary supplements. Public health campaigns could be useful to educate Serbian population regarding using dietary supplements during fitness activities.

Key messages

Male fitness club members are large consumers of dietary supplements in Serbia. Public health campaigns are needed to educate fitness participants about using dietary supplements.

P561Acute effects of dronedarone and amiodarone on functional, morphological and oxidative stress parameters in isolated rat heart with hypertension

Introduction

Amiodarone represents the most widely used antiarrhythmic drug, even though it has been shown that it has negative inotropic and lusitropic effect in healthy hears. On the other hand, dronedarone reduces the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation, but with increased early mortality related to the worsening of heart failure. However, the mechanisms responsible for these fatal outcomes remain unclear and require further examinations. 

Purpose

To investigate acute, direct effects of Dronedarone and Amiodarone on cardiac contractility, coronary flow and oxidative stress parameters in isolated rat heart with hypertension.

Methods

 The present study was carried out on 18 isolated hearts of spontaneously hypertensive Wistar Kyoto male rats (6 weeks old, bodyweight 200 ± 10 g). After isolation, all hearts were retrogradely perfused according to Langendorff technique with a gradually increment of coronary perfusion pressure (CPP from 40 to 120 cm H2O) and randomly divided into 3 groups: Control (n = 6), Amiodarone (n = 6, isolated hearts perfused with Amiodarone in dose of 3 umol), Dronedarone (n = 6, isolated hearts perfused with Dronedarone in dose of 1.8 umol). During ex vivo protocol continuously were registered cardiac contractility parameters and coronary flow, while from collected coronary venous effluent markers of oxidative stress were measured. All hearts were then fixated and stained with Hematoxylin/eosin.

Results

 Dronedarone severely depressed the function of all cardiodynamic parameters of the heart compared with Amiodarone or Control while Amiodarone intensified the function of the isolated rat heart with hypertension compared to Control (dp/dt max mmHg/s at coronary perfusion pressure 120cmH2O Dronedarone vs. Amiodarone vs. Control 579.733 ± 202.27 vs. 3063.65 ± 467.93 vs. 2682.88 ± 368.75; p < 0.001. dp/dt min mmHg/s 120cmH2O -352.13 ± 204.65 vs. 1960 ± 242.21 vs. -1858.83 ± 118.23; p < 0.001. SLVP mmHg at CPP 120cmH20 27.8 ± 3.46 vs. 98.95 ± 11.78 vs. 71.45 ± 7.56; p < 0.001. DLVP mmHg at CPP 120cmH2O 6.32 ± 0.49 vs. 4.83 ± 0.54 vs. 0.85 ± 0.35; p < 0.001). Acute administration of Dronedarone decreased the level of NO2- and increased the level of H2O2 , while Amiodarone heightens O2- levels (O2- nmol/min g wt at coronary perfusion pressure 120cmH2O Dronedarone vs. Amiodarone vs. Control  28.62 ± 2.54 vs. 77.3 ± 8.86 vs. 31.72 ± 4.56; p < 0.001. H2O2 nmol/min g wt at CPP 120cmH2O 92.56 ± 11.65 vs. 48.63 ± 10.11 vs. 42.84 ± 84; p < 0.001. NO2- nmol/min g wt at CPP 120cmH2O 38.61 ± 4.94 vs.  82.28 ± 5.76 vs.  64.71 ± 3.51; p < 0.001). Pathohistological, structural changes were observed in both, experimental groups.

Conclusions

 Acute administration of Dronedarone depresses cardiac function in isolated, working rat heart with hypertension, with decreasing the NO2- levels, increasing the level of H2O2 and enhanced structural changes when compared to Amiodarone.

XUV-driven plasma switch for THz: new spatio-temporal overlap tool for XUV-THz pump-probe experiments at FELs

A simple and robust tool for spatio-temporal overlap of THz and XUV pulses in in-vacuum pump-probe experiments is presented. The technique exploits ultrafast changes of the optical properties in semiconductors (i.e. silicon) driven by ultrashort XUV pulses that are probed by THz pulses. This work demonstrates that this tool can be used for a large range of XUV fluences that are significantly lower than when probing by visible and near-infrared pulses. This tool is mainly targeted at emerging X-ray free-electron laser facilities, but can be utilized also at table-top high-harmonics sources.

Factors associated with improvement of quality of life among parents of children with atopic dermatitis: 1-year prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies exploring the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children focused on factors associated with parental quality of life at one point in time.

OBJECTIVE

To examine factors associated with change of quality of life among parents of children affected with AD.

METHODS

The study cohort comprised 98 parent-children pairs treated for AD at the Clinic of Dermatovenereology; however, 18 parents (18.4%) were lost to follow-up after 1 year. Children were assessed with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) and Children Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) or the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL), depending on their age. Parents filled in socio-demographic questionnaire and Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI). After 1 year, both children and parents were reassessed using the same AD-related battery of questionnaires.

RESULTS

After follow-up, a significant improvement in the average total DFI score was observed, especially for domains of fatigue/exhaustion, emotional distress and impact of helping in child treatment. Lower baseline SCORAD, greater improvement of SCORAD over follow-up, better CDLQI/IDQOL at baseline, greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up, not having asthma and having older child with AD were associated with better parental quality of life after 1 year of follow-up. Parental higher education level, shorter AD duration, better baseline SCORAD and greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up were associated with greater improvement in parental life quality over 1 year of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Contributors to parental quality of life after 1 year included clinical features of AD and child's comorbidity (asthma), but also the perception of child's quality of life and its improvement.

P6465Are we calculated enough? Glomerular filtration rate as a predictor of intra-hospital prognosis in patients with pulmonary embolism

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can lead to multi-organ damage including an acute renal dysfunction which is associated with adverse events and high long-term mortality rate.

Purpose

The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive role of renal dysfunction on intrahospital mortality risk in patients hospitalized due to PE. The study was performed in intensive care units of six university hospitals.

Methods

The prospective cohort study comprised 665 consecutive patients with acute PE which was confirmed using MDCT. All patients underwent echocardiography examination on admission and blood samples were collected for troponin I (TnI), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and routine laboratory analyses.

Results

Based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), patients were divided into three groups: first with the GFR <30ml/min, second with GFR 30–60 ml/min, and third with GFR >60 ml/min. During hospitalization in the first group the overall incidence of death was recorded in 28 (45.9%), in the second in 42 (18.9%), and in the third in 30 (7.9%) patients (p<0.0001). Pulmonary embolism as a cause of death was recorded in the first group in 18 (29.5%) patients, in the second in 25 (11.3%) and in the third in 17 (4.5%) patients (p<0.0001). Fatal bleeding was recorded in the first group in 1 (1.6%), in the second in 1 (0.5%) and in the third group in 3 (0.8%) patients (p<0.05). There were no significant differences regarding major bleeding frequency among the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that age, comorbidities, hemodynamic status, TnI, and GFR were strongly associated with an overall mortality rate and with death due to PE, while the use of anticoagulation therapy influenced the fatal bleeding rate. After controlling for age, we found that GFR on admission had a significant effect on in-hospital survival. Compared with patients in the third group, those from the second group had more than 2 fold increased mortality risk [OR 2.17 (CI 1.301–3.625), p=0.001], and patients in the first group had 6 fold higher risk of mortality [OR 6.006 (CI 3.487–6.006)]. In the ROC analysis GFR showed significant predictive value for intra-hospital mortality risk in PE patients [AUC= 0.725, 95% CI (0.68–0.78), p<0.001]. The highest sensitivity (64%) and specificity (70%) had GFR “cutoff” value of 59.12/min.

Conclusion

Renal dysfunction, on admission, in patients with acute PE is strongly associated with high intrahospital mortality risk and fatal bleeding. The estimation of GFR in these patients is important not only for prediction of the outcome but also for the prevention of bleeding complications, regarding the optimal dosage of anticoagulants. Even though it seems that GFR calculation is not still the clinical routine in PE.

P5591Efficacy and safety of lower dose slow infusion of t-PA for intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism patients with risk for bleeding

Background

Current guidelines do not recommend thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) because of the tight balance between the benefit and safety with classic protocols.

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the new thrombolytic protocol with lower-dose slow-infusion (LDSI) of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to classic 2-hours tPA infusion protocol or no-reperfusion in patients with intermediate-high risk PE with higher bleeding risk regarding 30-day efficacy and safety.

Methods

Among 849 patients with PE from the Serbian multicenter registry, 469 patients who fulfilled criteria for intermediate-risk PE were involved in the study. After propensity score matching 425 patients [263 (61.9%), 99 (23.3%) and 63 (14.8%) were treated with no-reperfusion, classic tPA protocol (100 mg for 2 hours) and LDSI of tPA (2–5 mg/hour either vie local catheter or systemic venous infusion with dose range of 25–50 mg)]. The basic characteristics of patients were well balanced between groups except that patients treated with LDSI of tPA had significantly higher usage of drugs which can be associated to bleeding and more previous bleeding events. Thirty day all-cause and PE-caused mortality and 7-day major bleeding were the main efficacy and safety end-points, respectively.

Results

All-cause and PE-cause 30-day mortality were 8.7% vs 16.2% vs 1.6% (Log rank p=0.007) and 4.5% vs 11.0% vs 0.0% (Log rank p=0.008) in patients with no-reperfusion, classic tPA protocol and LDSI of tPA protocol, respectively. Major bleeding at 7 days were 2.7% vs 8.1% vs 14.3% (Log rank p=0.001) in patients with no-reperfusion, classic tPA protocol and LDSI of tPA protocol, respectively. There was one fatal intracranial bleeding during catheter infusion of tPA.

Conclusion

Lower-dose slow-infusion of tPA protocol decreased significantly all-cause and PE-cause mortality at 30-day at the cost of excess of non-fatal major bleeding at 7-day in patients with intermediate-risk PE and higher risk for bleeding.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

Sleep in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis or COPD

BACKGROUND

The standard method for scoring polysomnographic (PSG) sleep is insufficient in the intensive care unit (ICU). A modified classification has been proposed, but has not been tested in specific groups of ICU patients. We aimed firstly to (1) use the modified classification to describe sleep in two groups of ICU patients: a severe sepsis group and a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group, and (2) to compare sleep stage distribution in the groups; secondly to compare the PSG findings with nurses' sleep evaluation.

METHODS

Non-sedated mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis or COPD completed up to 20-hours PSG recording in each patient. A modified classification for scoring sleep in ICU was used for scoring the PSGs. Sleep assessment by nurses was done at 15 minutes intervals.

RESULTS

We included 16 patients with severe sepsis and 17 patients with COPD. Half of the patients in the severe sepsis group and 59% in the COPD group had atypical sleep. We found significantly different sleep stage distribution in the two groups, with the COPD group having a higher proportion of atypical sleep (54.4% vs 48.7%, P < .0001). No correlation between nurse sleep assessment and PSG was found in cases of atypical sleep (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Normal PSG sleep characteristics as defined by standard classification are absent in many conscious, non-sedated critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Nurse sleep evaluation does not correlate with PSG if atypical sleep is present in the PSG, which limits the reliability of subjective sleep assessment in this patient population.

Update on the management of Barrett's esophagus in Austria

Background

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is the premalignant manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with and without endoscopic resection (ER) is a novel treatment for BE.

Methods

Here we present a single-center update of the recommendations of a recent (June 2015) interdisciplinary expert panel meeting on the management of BE with dysplasia as well as cancer-positive and cancer-negative BE. We conducted a PubMed search of studies published in 2016 and 2017 on the topic of BE and RFA.

Results

Our update reconfirms that BE positive for T1a cancer as well as low- and high-grade dysplasia justifies the use of RFA ± ER, offering an 80–100% rate of BE clearance. RFA ± ER of dysplastic BE is tenfold more effective for cancer prevention when compared with surveillance. Risk factors for recurrence and follow-up treatments include baseline histopathology (dysplasia/T1a cancer), esophagitis, hiatal hernia >3 cm, smoking habits, BE segments >3 cm, and >10 years of GERD symptoms. A baseline diagnosis for dysplasia and T1a cancer should include a second expert pathologist opinion. Recent data justify the use of RFA for nondysplastic BE only in controlled clinical trials. Antireflux surgery can be offered to those with function-test-proven, GERD-symptom-positive BE before, during, or after RFA ± ER. Additionally, there is growing evidence that the intake of a sugar-rich diet is positively correlated with the development of GERD, BE, and cancer.

Conclusion

RFA ± ER should be offered for dysplastic BE and T1a cancer after ER as well as for nondysplastic BE with additional risk factors in controlled trials. Antireflux surgery can be offered to patients with function-test-proven GERD-symptom-positive BE. Diet considerations should be included in the management of GERD and BE.

Case-control design as investigative approach to assessing cancer etiology: development and future perspectives

The case-control method evolved out of analyses of series of cases. The analytic form of the case-control study can be found in the 19th century medical literature, but did not appear to be viewed as a special or distinct methodology. The first modern case-control study was the Janet Lane-Claypon's study of breast cancer in 1926, but the design was used only sporadically in medicine until 1950, when 4 published casecontrol studies linked smoking and lung cancer. These 1950s studies synthesized the essential elements of the case-control comparison, produced a conceptual shift within epidemiology, and laid the foundation for the rapid development of the case-control design in the subsequent half century. The powerful consistency of these case-control studies, and the replication of their findings in later prospective studies, promoted the general acceptance of the case-control study as a scientific tool in clinical research. Newer case-control studies have benefited from the advances in design, execution and analysis since 1950s. These advances include more rigorous selection and matching of case and control population, improved interviewing techniques, location of the design within a general framework of epidemiologic strategies for relating exposure to disease, understanding of the measures of effect, and application of increasingly sophisticated statistical procedures to findings. This review traces the development and future perspectives of the case-control design to assessing cancer etiology. With illustrations drawn primarily from the literature on its use and the value of its results to unravelling the etiology of malignant diseases, we tried to explore if the case-control approach firmly ensconced in epidemiology as investigational tool and rivals in importance the more straightforward cohort approach.

Search for a vectorlike quark with charge 2/3 in t+Z events from pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for pair-produced heavy vectorlike charge-2/3 quarks, T, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, is performed with the CMS detector at the LHC. Events consistent with the flavor-changing-neutral-current decay of a T quark to a top quark and a Z boson are selected by requiring two leptons from the Z-boson decay, as well as an additional isolated charged lepton. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.14  fb(-1), the number of observed events is found to be consistent with the standard model background prediction. Assuming a branching fraction of 100% for the decay T→tZ, a T quark with a mass less than 475  GeV/c(2) is excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Search for supersymmetry at the LHC in events with jets and missing transverse energy

A search for events with jets and missing transverse energy is performed in a data sample of pp collisions collected at √s=7 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.14 fb(-1). In this search, a kinematic variable α(T) is used as the main discriminator between events with genuine and misreconstructed missing transverse energy. No excess of events over the standard model expectation is found. Exclusion limits in the parameter space of the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model are set. In this model, squark masses below 1.1 TeV are excluded at 95% C.L. Gluino masses below 1.1 TeV are also ruled out at 95% C.L. for values of the universal scalar mass parameter below 500 GeV.

Search for new physics with a monojet and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A study of events with missing transverse energy and an energetic jet is performed using pp collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The data were collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb(-1). An excess of these events over standard model contributions is a signature of new physics such as large extra dimensions and unparticles. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the prediction of the standard model, and significant extension of the current limits on parameters of new physics benchmark models is achieved.

Search for B(s)(0) → μ+ μ- and B(0) → μ+ μ- decays in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV

A search for the rare decays B(s)(0) → μ+ μ- and B(0) → μ+ μ- is performed in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV, with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.14 fb(-1), collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. In both cases, the number of events observed after all selection requirements is consistent with expectations from background and standard-model signal predictions. The resulting upper limits on the branching fractions are B(B(s)(0) → μ+ μ-) < 1.9 × 10(-8) and B(B(0) → μ+ μ-)<4.6 × 10(-9), at 95% confidence level.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with mycophenolate mofetil treatment in a woman with lupus and CD4+ T-lymphocyte deficiency

There is an increase in the number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reported as developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) while on intensive immunosuppressive therapy. A 39-year-old HIV-negative woman with a 10-year history of SLE presented with progressive left-side weakness while on maintenance therapy with oral prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). On several occasions low CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were found (68/µL). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large lesion in the right subcortical fronto-parietal region and a smaller one in the left frontal subcortex, corresponding to the PML. In cerebrospinal fluid, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for JC virus (JCV) was negative, but anti-JCV antibodies were highly positive. Diagnosis of probable PML was made and MMF was withdrawn. The patient's condition improved with marked reduction of left-side weakness and an increase in CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (141/µL). Follow-up MRI showed regression of lesions and over the next 6 months the patient remained stable. In spite of the grave prognosis associated with PML, SLE patients can have an excellent outcome if immunosuppressants are discontinued as soon as the correct diagnosis is made. SLE patients with associated low CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts should be monitored for the development of PML during immunosuppressive therapy in particular.

Effects of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich extracts on the risk for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract

Anthocyanins are the largest group of water-soluble pigments in the plant kingdom. Anthocyanins are responsible for most of the red, blue, and purple colors of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plant tissues or products. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that anthocyanins display a wide range of biological activities. This review summarises recent literature evidence on the association of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich extracts consumption with the risk for gastrointestinal tract cancer, concentrating on the results from in vivo animal model tumor systems, as well as data from human epidemiological studies. Potential cancer chemopreventive activities of anthocyanins were revealed from in vitro studies. In vivo animal model tumor systems showed that dietary anthocyanins inhibit cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Some epidemiological studies have revealed protective effects of anthocyanins consumption on gastrointestinal cancer risk in humans. Pharmacokinetic data indicate that absorption of anthocyanins into the bloodstream of rodents and humans is minimal, suggesting that they may have little efficacy in tissues other than the gastrointestinal tract and skin. Future studies should be undertaken to determine if the anticancer effects of anthocyanins are due to the parent compounds and/or to their metabolites.

Measurement of the inclusive jet cross section in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

The inclusive jet cross section is measured in pp collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider using the CMS experiment. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb(-1). The measurement is made for jet transverse momenta in the range 18-1100 GeV and for absolute values of rapidity less than 3. The measured cross section extends to the highest values of jet p(T) ever observed and, within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties, is generally in agreement with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD predictions.

Search for three-jet resonances in pp collisions at square root(s)=7 TeV

A search for three-jet hadronic resonance production in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV has been conducted by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35  pb(-1). Events with high jet multiplicity and a large scalar sum of jet transverse momenta are analyzed using a signature-based approach. The number of expected standard model background events is found to be in good agreement with the observed events. Limits on the cross section times branching ratio are set in a model of gluino pair production with an R-parity-violating decay to three quarks, and the data rule out such particles within the mass range of 200 to 280  GeV/c2.

Measurement of the t-channel single top quark production cross section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Electroweak production of the top quark is measured for the first time in pp collisions at √=7  TeV, using a data set collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36  pb⁻¹. With an event selection optimized for t-channel production, two complementary analyses are performed. The first one exploits the special angular properties of the signal, together with background estimates from the data. The second approach uses a multivariate analysis technique to probe the compatibility with signal topology expected from electroweak top-quark production. The combined measurement of the cross section is 83.6±29.8(stat+syst)±3.3(lumi)  pb, consistent with the standard model expectation.

Indications of suppression of excited Υ states in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV

A comparison of the relative yields of Υ resonances in the μ(+)μ(-) decay channel in Pb-Pb and pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV is performed with data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Using muons of transverse momentum above 4  GeV/c and pseudorapidity below 2.4, the double ratio of the Υ(2S) and Υ(3S) excited states to the Υ(1S) ground state in Pb-Pb and pp collisions, [Υ(2S+3S)/Υ(1S)](Pb-Pb)/[Υ(2S+3S)/Υ(1S)](pp), is found to be 0.31(-0.15)(+0.19)(stat)±0.03(syst). The probability to obtain the measured value, or lower, if the true double ratio is unity, is calculated to be less than 1%.

Measurement of the polarization of W bosons with large transverse momenta in W + jets events at the LHC

A first measurement of the polarization of W bosons with large transverse momenta in pp collisions is presented. The measurement is based on 36 pb⁻¹ of data recorded at √s = 7 TeV by the CMS detector at the LHC. The left-handed, right-handed, and longitudinal polarization fractions (f(L), f(R), and f₀, respectively) of W bosons with transverse momenta larger than 50 GeV are determined by using decays to both electrons and muons. The muon final state yields the most precise measurement: (f(L) - f(R))⁻ = 0.240 ± 0.036(stat) ± 0.031(syst) and f₀⁻ = 0.183 ± 0.087(stat) ± 0.123(syst) for negatively charged W bosons and (f(L) - f(R))⁺ = 0.310 ± 0.036(stat) ± 0.017(syst) and f₀⁺ = 0.171 ± 0.085(stat) ± 0.099(syst) for positively charged W bosons. This establishes, for the first time, that W bosons produced in pp collisions with large transverse momenta are predominantly left-handed, as expected in the standard model.

Measurement of the B0 production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV

Measurements of the differential production cross sections dσ/dpTB and dσ/dyB for B0 mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV are presented. The data set used was collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 40 pb-1. The production cross section is measured from B0 meson decays reconstructed in the exclusive final state J/ψKS0, with the subsequent decays J/ψ → μ + μ - and KS0 → π+}π-. The total cross section for pTB>5 GeV and |yB|<2.2 is measured to be 33.2 ± 2.5 ± 3.5 μb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

Search for neutral minimal supersymmetric standard model Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for neutral minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) Higgs bosons in pp collisions at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The results are based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36  pb(-1) recorded by the CMS experiment. The search uses decays of the Higgs bosons to tau pairs. No excess is observed in the tau-pair invariant-mass spectrum. The resulting upper limits on the Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction to tau pairs, as a function of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson mass, yield stringent new bounds in the MSSM parameter space.

Search for supersymmetry in pp collisions at √7 TeV in events with two photons and missing transverse energy

A search for supersymmetry in the context of general gauge-mediated breaking with the lightest neutralino as the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle and the gravitino as the lightest is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb(-1) recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The search is performed by using events containing two or more isolated photons, at least one hadronic jet, and significant missing transverse energy. No excess of events at high missing transverse energy is observed. Upper limits on the signal cross section for general gauge-mediated supersymmetry between 0.3 and 1.1 pb at the 95% confidence level are determined for a range of squark, gluino, and neutralino masses, excluding supersymmetry parameter space that was inaccessible to previous experiments.

Study of Z Boson Production in PbPb Collisions at √S(NN)=2.76 TeV

A search for Z bosons in the μ(+)μ(-) decay channel has been performed in PbPb collisions at √S(NN)=2.76  TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, in a 7.2 μb(-1) data sample. The number of opposite-sign muon pairs observed in the 60-120 GeV/c(2) invariant mass range is 39, corresponding to a yield per unit of rapidity (y) and per minimum bias event of [33.8±5.5(stat)±4.4(syst)]×10(-8), in the |y|<2.0 range. Rapidity, transverse momentum, and centrality dependencies are also measured. The results agree with next-to-leading order QCD calculations, scaled by the number of incoherent nucleon-nucleon collisions.

Measurement of dijet angular distributions and search for quark compositeness in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Dijet angular distributions are measured over a wide range of dijet invariant masses in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV, at the CERN LHC. The event sample, recorded with the CMS detector, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb⁻¹. The data are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of perturbative QCD, and yield no evidence of quark compositeness. With a modified frequentist approach, a lower limit on the contact interaction scale for left-handed quarks of Λ⁺ = 5.6 TeV (Λ⁻ = 6.7 TeV) for destructive (constructive) interference is obtained at the 95% confidence level.

Search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in the final state with two muons and two jets is performed using proton-proton collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb⁻¹. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions from the standard model processes. An upper limit is set on the second-generation leptoquark cross section times β² as a function of the leptoquark mass, and leptoquarks with masses below 394 GeV are excluded at a 95% confidence level for β = 1, where β is the leptoquark branching fraction into a muon and a quark. These limits are the most stringent to date.