The Yucatan minipig model: A new preclinical model of malnutrition in obese patients with acute or chronic diseases

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Malnutrition can develop in patients with obesity suffering from acute or chronic illness or after obesity surgery, promoting sarcopenic obesity. A better understanding of this pathophysiology and the development of new therapeutics for chronic diseases, that are often complicated with malnutrition and obesity, justify the development of new animal experimental models close to the human physiology. This study aims to characterize the effects of obesity and underfeeding on Yucatan obese minipigs, assessing its validity as a preclinical model for obesity-related malnutrition.

METHODS

Sixteen 30-month-old Yucatan minipigs were divided into two groups for 8 weeks: a standard diet group (ST, n = 5) and an obesogenic diet group (OB, n = 11). After 8 weeks, the OB group was further divided into two sub-groups: a standard diet group (OB-ST, n = 5) and a low-calorie/low-protein diet group (OB-LC/LP, n = 6) for 8 weeks. Body composition by CT-Scan and blood parameters were monitored, and trapezius muscle biopsies were collected to analyse signaling pathways involved in protein turnover and energy metabolism.

RESULTS

At W8, OB-ST animals exhibited significantly higher body weight (+37.7%, p = 0.03), muscle mass (+24.9%, p = 0.02), and visceral fat (+192.0%, p = 0.03) compared to ST. Trapezius cross sectional area (CSA) normalized to body weight was lower in OB-ST animals (-15.02%, p = 0.017). At W16, no significant changes were observed in protein turnover markers, although REDD1 increased in OB-ST (96.4%, p = 0.02). After 8 weeks of low-caloric/low protein diet, OB-LC/LP showed decreased body weight (-9.8%, p = 0.03), muscle mass (-6.5%, p = 0.03), and visceral fat (-41.5%, p = 0.03) compared to OB-ST animals. Trapezius fiber CSA significantly decreased in OB-LC/LP (-36.1%, p < 0.0001) and normalized to body weight (-25.4%, p < 0.0001), combined to higher ubiquitinated protein content (+38.3%, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Our data support that the Yucatan minipig model mimics nutritional and skeletal muscle phenotypes observed in obese patients, with or without protein-energy malnutrition. It also reproduces muscle atrophy observed in chronic diseases or post-obesity surgery, making it a promising preclinical model for obesity-related malnutrition.

Casein structures differently affect postprandial amino acid delivery through their intra-gastric clotting properties

We aimed to assess if casein structure affects its digestion and its subsequent amino acid delivery kinetic. Higher nitrogen levels were recovered in dialysates after in vitro digestions of sodium caseinate (SC, formed of small aggregates) compared to micellar casein (MC, native form of casein) and calcium caseinate (CC, intermediate structure). Likewise, plasma indispensable amino-acid concentration peak was higher after SC compared to MC or CC ingestion in healthy volunteers in a randomized, double blind, cross-over study. In pigs, gamma-scintigraphy using labelled meals revealed that SC was mainly localized in the proximal part of the stomach whereas MC was distributed in the whole gastric cavity. Caseins were found in both solid and liquid phases and partly hydrolyzed casein in the solid phase shortly after SC drink ingestion. These data support the concept of slow (MC) and rapid (SC) casein depending of casein structure, likely due to their intra-gastric clotting properties.

Exploration of fMRI brain responses to oral sucrose after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in obese yucatan minipigs in relationship with microbiota and metabolomics profiles

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In most cases, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is an efficient intervention to lose weight, change eating behavior and improve metabolic outcomes in obese patients. We hypothesized that weight loss induced by RYGBP in obese Yucatan minipigs would induce specific modifications of the gut-brain axis and neurocognitive responses to oral sucrose stimulation in relationship with food intake control.

METHODS

An integrative study was performed after SHAM (n = 8) or RYGBP (n = 8) surgery to disentangle the physiological, metabolic and neurocognitive mechanisms of RYGBP. BOLD fMRI responses to sucrose stimulations at different concentrations, brain mRNA expression, cecal microbiota, and plasma metabolomics were explored 4 months after surgery and integrated with WGCNA analysis.

RESULTS

We showed that weight loss induced by RYGBP or SHAM modulated differently the frontostriatal responses to oral sucrose stimulation, suggesting a different hedonic treatment and inhibitory control related to palatable food after RYGBP. The expression of brain genes involved in the serotoninergic and cannabinoid systems were impacted by RYGBP. Cecal microbiota was deeply modified and many metabolite features were differentially increased in RYGBP. Data integration with WGCNA identified interactions between key drivers of OTUs and metabolites features linked to RYGBP.

CONCLUSION

This longitudinal study in the obese minipig model illustrates with a systemic and integrative analysis the mid-term consequences of RYGBP on brain mRNA expression, cecal microbiota and plasma metabolites. We confirmed the impact of RYGBP on functional brain responses related to food reward, hedonic evaluation and inhibitory control, which are key factors for the success of anti-obesity therapy and weight loss maintenance.

[External validation of nomogram for the prediction of recurrences of pregnancy-associated breast cancer]

OBJECTIVE

Diagnosis and therapeutics are challenging in pregnancy-related breast cancer and a multidisciplinary approach is therefore essential. A nomogram predictive of recurrence at 36 months of PABC has recently been developed, the aim was to evaluate it on an independent cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a monocentric retrospective study including all patients with PABC between January 2004 and March 2018. A Kaplan-Meier method was used for the analysis of recurrence-free survival. Nomogram performance was analysed on 3 indicators: discrimination by a receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), calibration and net clinical benefit by a decision curve analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients have been included. The survival rate was 83 % at 3 years. The nomogram showed acceptable discrimination capacities on receiver-operator characteristic analysis (c-index: 0.78). Decision-curve analysis showed a positive net-benefit for relapse probability ranges between 5 % and 35 %.

CONCLUSION

The performance of this prediction model is acceptable but the net clinical benefit low. In conclusion, prediction of recurrence remains challenging with a continued need for more precise tools.

Collective strong coupling in a plasmonic nanocavity

Quantum plasmonics extends cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) concepts to the nanoscale, benefiting from the strongly subwavelength confinement of the plasmon modes supported by metal nanostructures. In this work, we describe in detail collective strong coupling to a plasmonic nanocavity. Similarities and differences to cQED are emphasized. We notably observe that the Rabi splitting can strongly deviate from the standard N_eΔΩ₁ law, where N_e is the number of emitters and ΔΩ₁ is the Rabi splitting for a single emitter. In addition, we discuss the collective Lamb shift and the role of quantum corrections to the emission spectra.

A maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation modifies offspring's microglial cell density and morphology in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in Yucatan minipigs

Changes in microglial development and morphology can be induced by inflammatory conditions and associated with eating or mood disorders, such as hyperphagia or depression. In a previous paper in the minipig model, we showed that maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation decreased hippocampus neurogenesis and food-rewarded cognitive abilities in the progeny. Whether these alterations are concomitant with a central inflammatory process in brain structures involved in learning and memory (hippocampus, HPC), cognitive (prefrontal cortex, PFC), or hedonic (orbitofrontal cortex, OFC) control of food intake is still unknown. In the present study, Yucatan minipigs (Sus scrofa) sows were exposed to two different diets during gestation and lactation (standard, SD N = 7 vs. Western diet, WD N = 9). Iba1 is a calcium-binding protein specifically expressed in microglia in the brain, which plays an important role in the regulation of the microglia function. Iba1 expression was examined by immunohistochemical analyses in the PFC, OFC and HPC of piglets. The density of microglial cells, as well as their morphology, were assessed in order to have an indirect insight of microglial cell activation state possibly in relationship with neuroinflammation. The density of Iba1-positive cells was higher in the PFC but not in the HPC of WD compared to SD piglets (p < 0.001). In the HPC, anterior and dorsolateral PFC, WD piglets had more unipolar cells, contrary to SD that had more multipolar cells (P < 0.0001). Opposite effects were observed in the OFC, with SD presenting more unipolar (P < 0.001) microglial cells compared to WD. We showed here that maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation had significant effects on morphological changes of microglial cells in the offspring, and that these effects differed between the HPC and PFC, suggesting different response mechanisms to the early nutritional environment.

Validation of a Psychosocial Chronic Stress Model in the Pig Using a Multidisciplinary Approach at the Gut-Brain and Behavior Levels

Psychological chronic stress is an important risk factor for major depressive disorder, of which consequences have been widely studied in rodent models. This work aimed at describing a pig model of chronic stress based on social isolation, environmental impoverishment and unpredictability. Three groups of animals of both sexes were constituted. Two were exposed to the psychosocial stressors while receiving (SF, n = 12) or not (SC, n = 22) the antidepressant fluoxetine, and a third group (NSC, n = 22) remained unstressed. Animals were observed in home pens and during dedicated tests to assess resignation and anxiety-like behaviors. Brain structure and function were evaluated via proton MRS and fMRI. Hippocampal molecular biology and immunodetection of cellular proliferation (Ki67⁺) and neuron maturation (DCX⁺) in the dentate gyrus were also performed. Salivary cortisol, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and various plasmatic and intestinal biomarkers were analyzed. Compared to NSC, SC animals showed more resignation (p = 0.019) and had a higher level of salivary cortisol (p = 0.020). SC brain responses to stimulation by a novel odor were lower, similarly to their hippocampal neuronal density (p = 0.015), cellular proliferation (p = 0.030), and hippocampal levels of BDNF and 5-HT_1AR (p = 0.056 and p = 0.007, respectively). However, the number of DCX⁺ cells was higher in the ventral dentate gyrus in this group (p = 0.025). In addition, HOMA-IR was also higher (p < 0.001) and microbiota fermentation activity was lower (SCFAs, SC/NSC: p < 0.01) in SC animals. Fluoxetine partially or totally reversed several of these effects. Exposure to psychosocial stressors in the pig model induced effects consistent with the human and rodent literature, including resignation behavior and alterations of the HPA axis and hippocampus. This model opens the way to innovative translational research exploring the mechanisms of chronic stress and testing intervention strategies with good face validity related to human.

Gastric Emptying and Dynamic In Vitro Digestion of Drinkable Yogurts: Effect of Viscosity and Composition

Gastric emptying of food is mainly driven by the caloric concentration, the rheological properties of the chyme, and the physical state (liquid/solid) of food once in the stomach. The present work investigated: (1) The effect of the composition and the viscosity of drinkable yogurts on gastric emptying in pigs, and (2) the behavior of yogurts during dynamic in vitro digestion. Three isocaloric liquid yogurts were manufactured: Two enriched in protein and fiber showing either a low (LV) or high (HV) viscosity, one control enriched in sugar and starch (CT). They were labelled with 99mTc-sulfur colloid and given to pigs (n = 11) to determine gastric emptying pattern by gamma scintigraphy. Then dynamic in vitro digestion of the yogurts was done using the parameters of gastric emptying determined in vivo. Gastric emptying half-times were significantly longer for LV than CT, whereas HV exhibited an intermediate behavior. In vitro gastric digestion showed a quick hydrolysis of caseins, whereas whey proteins were more resistant in the stomach particularly for LV and HV. During the intestinal phase, both whey proteins and caseins were almost fully hydrolyzed. Viscosity was shown to affect the behavior of yogurt in the small intestine.

In situ study of sigma phase formation in Cr-Co-Ni ternary alloys at 800°C using the long duration experiment facility at Diamond Light Source

The new long duration experiment facility on beamline I11 at Diamond Light Source has been used to study the kinetics of sigma phase formation in three Cr-Co-Ni alloys. Diffraction data acquired during in situ exposure at 800°C for 50 d showed progressive increases in the sigma fraction. This was accompanied by changes in the proportions of the other phases, which differed markedly between the alloys studied. These results demonstrate the capabilities of the long duration facility for the study of metallurgical phenomena over periods of months to years, a capability not previously available at a synchrotron source.

Nonlinear Stimulated Raman Exact Passage by Resonance-Locked Inverse Engineering

We derive an exact and robust stimulated Raman process for nonlinear quantum systems driven by pulsed external fields. The external fields are designed with closed-form expressions from the inverse engineering of a given efficient and stable dynamics. This technique allows one to induce a controlled population inversion which surpasses the usual nonlinear stimulated Raman adiabatic passage efficiency.

[Hot tub lung: A case report]

Hot tub lung is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by inhalational exposure to the Mycobacterium avium complex. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy presenting dyspnea with hypoxemia, whose medical history and clinical course helped make the diagnosis. Infectious causes were considered first, and antibiotics were initiated without success. Further questioning and explorations led to discussing a hypersensitivity pneumonitis diagnosis. Relapse after exposure to a hot tub enabled us to confirm hot tub lung. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a rare cause of pulmonary disorder, especially in children. It should be discussed with unusually severe and progressive cough or dyspnea. Further explorations should therefore be undertaken (CT, fibroscopy). Taking a precise medical history allows early diagnosis, leading to a quick withdrawal from the allergenic source and appropriate treatments.

Advances in methods for estimating stopover duration for migratory species using capture-recapture data

Many species are migratory, resulting in a life cycle divided into periodic stages occurring in different habitats occupied for a limited amount of time. Estimating the time spent in each habitat is crucial to understanding how individuals modulate their activities and thus to evolutionary ecology and conservation biology. Several methods, including some recent promising advances, can be used to estimate stopover duration as well as arrival and departure probabilities at sites where individuals are monitored using capture-recapture sampling. Our objectives in this study were to (1) describe the available models to estimate stopover duration, (2) illustrate with an original data set what kinds of questions can be addressed using the most recent methods, and (3) to provide in a detailed appendix a practical guide for implementing these methods in E-SURGE software. To illustrate the potential of these models for testing biological hypotheses, we used a capture-recapture data set on marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus). We used time-dependent and time-elapsed-since-arrival effects (using both Markovian and semi-Markov processes for the latter) to model stopover duration and the probability of arriving in and departing from a breeding pond for this species and compared the relative performance of the resulting models. Our findings showed a strong sex effect on stopover duration: females stayed on average 5.63 weeks in a breeding pond whereas males stayed only 3.03 weeks. In both sexes, the retention probability was mainly influenced by the time already spent there. Consequently, individuals of the same sex stayed a similar amount of time in a pond, although they did not arrive simultaneously but successively. The selected data set demonstrated the flexibility of these methods and their potential relevance for applications in evolutionary ecology and conservation.

Dressed states of a quantum emitter strongly coupled to a metal nanoparticle

Hybrid molecule-plasmonic nanostructures have demonstrated their potential for surface enhanced spectroscopies, sensing, or quantum control at the nanoscale. In this Letter, we investigate the strong coupling regime and explicitly describe the hybridization between the localized plasmons of a metal nanoparticle and the excited state of a quantum emitter, offering a simple and precise understanding of the energy exchange in full analogy with cavity quantum electrodynamics treatment and a dressed atom picture. Both near-field emission and far-field radiation are discussed, revealing the richness of such optical nanosources.

Robust quantum control by a single-shot shaped pulse

Considering the problem of the control of a two-state quantum system by an external field, we establish a general and versatile method allowing the derivation of smooth pulses which feature the properties of high fidelity, robustness, and low area. Such shaped pulses can be interpreted as a single-shot generalization of the composite pulse-sequence technique with a time-dependent phase.

Brain processing of duodenal and portal glucose sensing

Peripheral and central glucose sensing play a major role in the regulation of food intake. Peripheral sensing occurs at duodenal and portal levels, although the importance of these sensing sites is still controversial. The present study aimed to compare the respective influence of these sensing pathways on the eating patterns; plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1); and brain activity in juvenile pigs. In Experiment 1, we characterised the changes in the microstructure as a result of a 30-min meal in eight conscious animals after duodenal or portal glucose infusion in comparison with saline infusion. In Experiment 2, glucose, insulin and GLP-1 plasma concentrations were measured during 2 h after duodenal or portal glucose infusions in four anaesthetised animals. In Experiment 3, single photon emission computed tomography brain imaging was performed in five anaesthetised animals receiving duodenal or portal glucose or saline infusions. Both duodenal and portal glucose decreased the amount of food consumed, as well as the ingestion speed, although this effect appeared earlier with the portal infusion. Significant differences of glucose and GLP-1 plasma concentrations between treatments were found at the moment of brain imaging. Both duodenal and portal glucose infusions activated the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and primary somatosensory cortex. Only duodenal glucose infusion was able to induce activation of the prepyriform area, orbitofrontal cortex, caudate and putamen, as well as deactivation of the anterior prefrontal cortex and anterior entorhinal cortex, whereas only portal glucose infusion induced a significant activation of the insular cortex. We demonstrated that duodenal and portal glucose infusions led to the modulation of brain areas that are known to regulate eating behaviour, which probably explains the decrease of food intake after both stimulations. These stimulation pathways induced specific systemic and central responses, suggesting that different brain processing matrices are involved.

Decisional procalcitonin thresholds are not adapted to elderly patients admitted to the emergency room

CONTEXT

Diagnosis of sepsis in elderly is challenging.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether procalcitonin concentrations in elderly differed from values for the general population.

METHODS

Procalcitonin measurement was assessed prospectively in 307 apyretic patients ≥75 years visiting the emergency department.

RESULTS

Median age was 86 years [IQR81-90] and 222 (72%) were female. Procalcitonin concentration was 0.057 µg/L [0.040-0.092]; 99th percentile was 0.661 µg/L. Patients with procalcitonin concentrations above decisional thresholds had lower glomerular filtration rate and higher C-reactive protein concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline procalcitonin levels are increased in elderly. Elevated values are common and associated to low-grade inflammation and lower eGFR.

Is mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) an accurate marker of bacteremia in pyelonephritis?

INTRODUCTION

Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) increases during systemic infections and could possibly correlate with bacteremia.

METHODS

We determined the characteristics of MRproANP for accuracy to detect positive blood culture.

RESULTS

Bacteremia was positive in 58 (15%) of 347 patients. MRproANP levels increased in patients with bacteremia (98.4 pmol/L [interquartile range (IQR) 68.2-153.1] vs. 66.4 pmol/L [IQR 51.0-90.3], p <0.01). Performance of MRproANP to predict bacteremia [AUC = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.61-0.77] was equivalent to C-reactive protein (0.66 [95%CI: 0.59-0.74], p = 0.53) but less accurate than procalcitonin (0.78 [95%CI: 0.72-0.84], p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although MRproANP increased in bacteremic patients with acute pyelonephritis, results of likelihood ratios discarded its use at bedside to predict bacteremia.

Changes in brain activity after a diet-induced obesity

Compared to lean subjects, obese men have less activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain area implicated in the inhibition of inappropriate behavior, satiety, and meal termination. Whether this deficit precedes weight gain or is an acquired feature of obesity remains unknown. An adult animal model of obesity may provide insight to this question since brain imaging can be performed in lean vs. obese conditions in a controlled study. Seven diet-induced obese adult minipigs were compared to nine lean adult minipigs housed in the same conditions. Brain activation after an overnight fasting was mapped in lean and obese subjects by single photon emission computed tomography. Cerebral blood flow, a marker of brain activity, was measured in isoflurane-anesthetized animals after the intravenous injection of 99mTc-HMPAO (750 MBq). Statistical analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) software and cerebral blood flow differences were determined using co-registered T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological atlases. Deactivations were observed in the dorsolateral and anterior prefrontal cortices in obese compared to lean subjects. They were also observed in several other structures, including the ventral tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and nucleus pontis. On the contrary, activations were found in four different regions, including the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus and middle temporal gyrus. Moreover, the anterior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices as well as the insular cortex activity was negatively associated with the body weight. We suggested that the reduced activation of prefrontal cortex observed in obese humans is probably an acquired feature of obesity since it is also found in minipigs with a diet-induced obesity.

Role of cancer treatment in long-term overall and cardiovascular mortality after childhood cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of treatment in long-term overall and cardiovascular mortality after childhood cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 4,122 5-year survivors of a childhood cancer diagnosed before 1986 in France and the United Kingdom. Information on chemotherapy was collected, and the radiation dose delivered to the heart was estimated for 2,870 patients who had received radiotherapy.

RESULTS

After 86,453 person-years of follow-up (average, 27 years), 603 deaths had occurred. The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 8.3-fold higher (95% CI, 7.6-fold to 9.0-fold higher) in relation to the general populations in France and the United Kingdom. Thirty-two patients had died as a result of cardiovascular diseases (ie, 5.0-fold [95% CI, 3.3-fold to 6.7-fold] more than expected). The risk of dying as a result of cardiac diseases (n = 21) was significantly higher in individuals who had received a cumulative anthracycline dose greater than 360 mg/m(2) (relative risk [RR], 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 15.3) and in individuals who received an average radiation dose that exceeded 5 Gy (RR, 12.5 and 25.1 for 5 to 14.9 Gy and > 15 Gy, respectively) to the heart. A linear relationship was found between the average dose of radiation to the heart and the risk of cardiac mortality (estimated excess [corrected] RR at 1 Gy, 60%).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first, to our knowledge, to establish a relationship between the radiation dose received by the heart during radiotherapy for a childhood cancer and long-term cardiac mortality. This study also confirms a significant excess risk of cardiac mortality associated with a high cumulative dose of anthracyclines.

Cancer mortality among French nuclear contract workers

BACKGROUND

Nuclear workers from French contracting companies have received higher doses than workers from Electricité de France (EDF) or Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA).

METHODS

A cohort study of 9,815 workers in 11 contracting companies, monitored for exposure to ionizing radiation between 1967 and 2000 were followed up for a median duration of 12.5 years. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed.

RESULTS

Between 1968 and 2002, 250 deaths occurred. Our study demonstrated a clear healthy worker effect (HWE) with mortality attaining half that expected from national mortality statistics (SMR = 0.54, 95% CI = [0.47-0.61]). The HWE was lower for all cancers (SMR = 0.65) than for non-cancer deaths (SMR = 0.46). The analysis by cancer site showed no excess compared with the general population. Significant trends were observed according to the level of exposure to ionizing radiation for deaths from cancer, deaths from digestive cancer and deaths from respiratory cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality of nuclear workers from contracting companies is very low compared to French national mortality.

Can C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide measurements guide choice of in-patient or out-patient care in acute pyelonephritis? Biomarkers In Sepsis (BIS) multicentre study

Whereas C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may be of use at the bedside in the management of adult patients with infectious disorders, their usefulness has not been established in the setting of acute pyelonephritis. To assess the effectiveness of CRP, PCT and ANP measurements in guiding emergency physicians' decisions whether to admit to hospital patients with acute pyelonephritis, we conducted a multicentre, prospective, observational study in 12 emergency departments in France; 582 consecutive patients were included. The reference standard for admission was defined by experts' advice combined with necessity of admission or death during the 28-day follow-up. Baseline CRP, PCT and ANP were measured and their accuracy in identifying the necessity of admission was analysed using area under curves (AUC) of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) plots. According to the reference standard, 126 (22%) patients required admission. ANP (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.80) and PCT (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.71-0.80) more accurately predicted this than did CRP (AUC 0.69, 95% CI 0.64-0.74). The positive and negative likelihood ratios for each biomarker remained clinically irrelevant whatever the threshold. Our results did not support the use of these markers to help physicians in deciding about admission of patients experiencing acute pyelonephritis in daily practice.

Adiabatic quantum search scheme with atoms in a cavity driven by lasers

We propose an implementation of the quantum search algorithm of a marked item in an unsorted list of N items by adiabatic passage in a cavity-laser-atom system. We use an ensemble of N identical three-level atoms trapped in a single-mode cavity and driven by two lasers. In each atom, the same level represents a database entry. One of the atoms is marked by having an energy gap between its two ground states. Appropriate time delays between the two laser pulses allow one to populate the marked state starting from an initial entangled state within a decoherence-free adiabatic subspace. The time to achieve such a process is shown to exhibit the square root N Grover speedup.

Treatment-Adjusted Predisposition to Second Malignant Neoplasms After a Solid Cancer in Childhood: A Case-Control Study

Purpose

Previous therapy, genetic susceptibility, and the type of first malignant neoplasm (FMN) are known to be associated with the risk of second malignant neoplasm (SMN) among patients treated for a childhood cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the independent role of the FMN in the onset of any SMN.

Patients and Methods

A case-control study nested in a European cohort of 4,581 patients treated for a solid cancer during childhood was conducted. One hundred forty-six patients with an SMN and 417 controls were matched for sex, age at FMN, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, the local radiation dose received at the site of SMN for patient cases and at the same site for the matched controls, and follow-up.

Results

A significantly increased risk of developing any SMN was observed after Hodgkin's lymphoma, retinoblastoma, malignant bone tumor, soft tissue sarcoma (STS), and germ cell tumor as FMN, after adjustment for chemotherapy and family cancer syndrome. No significant risk of developing a carcinoma was observed among patients who had developed Hodgkin's lymphoma as FMN. A significantly increased risk of developing a sarcoma was observed among patients who had developed a retinoblastoma (adjusted odds ratio [ORa] = 7.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 46), a malignant bone tumor (ORa = 13.3; 95% CI, 1.5 to 117), an STS (ORa = 4.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 18), or a carcinoma (ORa = 9.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 82) as FMN.

Conclusion

Survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma, retinoblastoma, malignant bone tumor, STS, and germ cell tumor should receive close surveillance because they are at increased risk of developing any SMN.

Treatment-adjusted predisposition to second malignant neoplasms after a solid cancer in childhood: A case-control study

21031

Background: Previous therapy, genetic susceptibility and the type of the first cancer are known to be associated with the risk of a second malignant neoplasm (SMN) among patients treated for a childhood cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the independent role of the type of first malignant neoplasm in the onset of any SMN taking into account treatment and family cancer syndromes. Methods: A case-control study nested in a European cohort of 4,581 patients, treated for a solid cancer during childhood was conducted. 146 cases with a SMN and 417 controls were matched according to sex, age at first cancer, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, the local radiation dose received at the site of the SMN for the case and at the same site for the matched controls and follow- up. Results: A significantly increased risk of developing any SMN was observed after Hodgkin's lymphoma, retinoblastoma, soft tissue sarcoma orand a malignant bone tumor as the first malignant neoplasm (FMN), independently of initial treatment and family cancer syndromes. A significantly increased risk of developing a sarcoma was observed among patients who had developed a retinoblastoma, OR=5.9 (95%CI : 1.0–34) a malignant bone tumor, OR=11.9 (95%CI : 1.5–95), or a soft tissue sarcoma, OR=5.1 (95%CI : 1.4–19) compared to patients with a Wilm's tumor as the FMN. Conclusions: Survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma, retinoblastoma, soft tissue sarcoma or a malignant bone tumor are at increased risk of any SMN independently of initial treatment and genetic susceptibility.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effect of an abrupt switch from a milk-based to a fibre-based diet on gastric emptying rates in pigs: difference between origins of fibre

A characteristic dietary feature at weaning is a switch from a milk-based to plant-based diet, i.e. from a non-fibrous to a fibrous diet. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of such an abrupt dietary switch on gastric emptying rate in pigs maintained on a milk substitute after weaning. Eighteen piglets were kept on a milk substitute for 5 weeks after weaning and were then switched to wheat-based or barley-based diets or kept on the milk substitute (six piglets per group). All piglets were fasted for 1d before the switch and daily food intake was then increased linearly to reach initial values within 3d. The gastric emptying rate was measured by γ-scintigraphy before and after the switch. Corpo-antral peristalsis was also evaluated by the use of high-frequency scintigraphic frames. The gastric emptying rate of the wheat-based diet was accelerated on days 1 to 3 after the switch, but was similar to that in the milk-substitute group thereafter. This acceleration was concomitant with an enhanced frequency of corpo-antral waves on days 2 and 3. Conversely, the gastric emptying rate of the barley-based diet tended to be enhanced on day 2, but was delayed on days 4 and 5, without any change in frequency of corpo-antral waves. We conclude that a switch from a non-fibrous to a fibrous diet alters the gastric emptying rate differently depending on the type of dietary fibre.

Lack of value of procalcitonin for prediction of coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease

We studied the clinical, biologic (white blood cells, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin) and echocardiographic findings in 18 children hospitalized for Kawasaki disease from January 1999 until February 2006 to determine if procalcitonin is a useful marker to predict coronary aneurysms. In our study, contrary to earlier reports, elevated procalcitonin was not correlated with development of coronary aneurysms.

Enhanced alignment and orientation of polar molecules by vibrational resonant adiabatic passage

The authors show that polar molecules can be adiabatically aligned and oriented by laser pulses more efficiently when the laser frequencies are vibrationally resonant. The aligned molecules are found in a superposition of vibrational pendular states, each associated with the alignment of the rotor in one vibrational state. The authors construct the dressed potential associated with this mechanism. Values of detunings and field amplitudes are given to optimize the degree of alignment and orientation for the CO molecule.

Role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the risk of secondary leukaemia after a solid tumour in childhood

The aim of this study was to determine the therapy-related risk factors for the occurrence of leukaemia after childhood solid cancer. Among 4204 3-year survivors of a childhood cancer treated in eight French and British centres before 1986, 11 patients developed leukaemia as a second malignant neoplasm (SMN). Compared with the leukaemia incidence in the general French and British populations, the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of leukaemia was 7.8 (95% CI 4.0-13.4). It decreased from 20.3 (95% CI 8.3-41.2) during the first years of follow-up, to 2.2 (95% CI 0.1-9.7) between 10 and 20 years, but rose again to 14.8 (95% CI 3.7-38.3) 20 or more years after the first cancer. Radiotherapy appeared to increase the risk of leukaemia at moderate weighted doses to active bone marrow; the relative risk (RR) was 4.2 (95% CI 0.8-20.7) for doses ranging from 3 to 6.6 Gy. A greater RR was observed for epipodophyllotoxins and for vinca alkaloids. No specific type of first malignant neoplasm (FMN) was found to lead to a higher risk of secondary leukaemia. Epipodophyllotoxins and vinca alkaloids at high doses and moderate weighted radiation doses to active bone marrow may contribute independently to an increased risk of leukaemia for patients treated for childhood cancer. Our results suggest that the long-term risk of secondary leukaemia could be higher than previously reported.

Concomitant chemo-radiotherapy and local dose of radiation as risk factors for second malignant neoplasms after solid cancer in childhood: A case–control study

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are associated with an increased risk of a second malignant neoplasm (SMN) after a cancer during childhood. This study specified the dose-effect relationship between radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the risk of a SMN, and investigated the effect of chemo-radiotherapy on the risk of SMN. A case-control study nested in a European cohort of 4,581 patients treated for a solid cancer during childhood was conducted. One hundred and fifty three cases with a SMN and 442 controls were matched according to sex, age at first cancer, calendar year, type of first cancer and follow-up. The local radiation dose was estimated at the site of the SMN, for each case and at the same site, for the matched controls. The local dose of radiation significantly increased the risk of a SMN. The best model was linear with an excess relative risk per Gray equal to 0.13 (95% CI, 0.06; 0.26). Any chemotherapy significantly increased the risk of a SMN, odd ratio(adjusted) (OR(adjusted)) = 2.4 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.4-4.1), but no dose-effect relationship was observed between any drug category and the risk of a SMN. Patients who had received concomitant chemo-radiotherapy were significantly more at risk of developing a SMN than patients who had been treated with sequential chemo-radiotherapy, even after adjustment for the local dose of radiation and the 6 most frequently administered drugs, OR(adjusted) = 2.3 (95%CI, 1.1-4.8). Radiation was found to be the foremost treatment-related risk factor for the occurrence of a SMN. Compared to sequential treatment, concomitant chemo-radiotherapy may lead to a higher risk of a SMN.

Influence of the selective neuronal NO synthase inhibitor ARL 17477 on nitrergic neurotransmission in porcine stomach

Selective neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitors have been developed for possible application in cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. To investigate the degree of interference with peripheral nNOS, the influence of the selective nNOS inhibitor ARL 17477 was studied on electrically induced nitrergic relaxations in pig gastric fundus strips and on gastric fundic compliance in conscious pig. Circular muscle strips of porcine gastric fundus were electrically stimulated (10 s trains at 4 Hz, 0.1 ms and 40 V). ARL 17477 inhibited the electrically induced relaxations in a concentration-dependent way (3x10(-6) M-10(-4) M). The inhibitory effect of ARL 17477 developed more progressively than that of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 3x10(-4) M). In conscious pigs, instrumented with a fundic cannula, L-NAME (20 mg/kg i.v.) significantly increased mean arterial blood pressure and decreased fundic compliance in the fasted state (71+/-13 ml/mm Hg versus 185+/-37 ml/mm Hg after saline; P<0.05). ARL 17477 (3 mg/kg, i.v.) did not influence blood pressure but influenced gastric fundic volume-pressure curves in a similar way as L-NAME. Plasma concentration analysis of ARL 17477 indicated a half-life of less than 30 min in pig. ARL 17477 thus inhibits the effect of nitrergic neurons in the pig gastric fundus in vitro, leading to inhibited gastric compliance in the conscious pig. The study indicates that selective nNOS inhibitors, applied for cerebral disorders, might also interfere with neuronal nitrergic regulation of gastrointestinal motility.