First observation of η(1405) decays into f(0)(980)π0

The decays J/ψ → γ π+ π- π0 and J/ψ → γ π0 π0 π0 are analyzed using a sample of 225×10(6) J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay of η(1405) → f(0)(980)π0 with a large isospin violation is observed for the first time. The width of the f(0)(980) observed in the dipion mass spectra is anomalously narrower than the world average. Decay rates for three-pion decays of the η' are also measured precisely.

Spin-parity analysis of pp¯ mass threshold structure in J/ψ and ψ(3686) radiative decays

A partial wave analysis of the pp¯ mass-threshold enhancement in the reaction J/ψ→γpp¯ is used to determine its J(PC) quantum numbers to be 0(-+), its peak mass to be below threshold at M=1832(-5)(+19)(stat)(-17)(+18)(syst)±19(model) MeV/c(2), and its total width to be Γ<76 MeV/c(2) at the 90% C.L. The product of branching ratios is measured to be BR[J/ψ→γX(pp¯)]BR[X(pp¯)→pp¯]=[9.0(-1.1)(+0.4)(stat)(-5.0)(+1.5)(syst)±2.3(model)]×10(-5). A similar analysis performed on ψ(3686)→γpp¯ decays shows, for the first time, the presence of a corresponding enhancement with a production rate relative to that for J/ψ decays of R=[5.08(-0.45)(+0.71)(stat)(-3.58)(+0.67)(syst)±0.12(model)]%.

Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib overcomes P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance in resistant leukemic cell lines

INTRODUCTION

To study the effect of bortezomib alone or in combination with daunorubicin (DNR) on an mdr1 single-factor drug-resistant leukemia cell line K562/MDR1, a multifactor-resistant cell line K562/A02, a drug-sensitive cell line K562, and primary cells from acute myeloid leukemia patients.

METHODS

The cell lines were exposed to bortezomib, DNR, and bortezomib plus DNR, and cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis rate, and expression of MDR1/BCL2 were analyzed.

RESULTS

Bortezomib potently inhibited growth and increased the apoptosis rate in the cell lines. In K562/MDR1 and K562/A02, the calcium channel blocker verapamil reduced the 50% inhibitory concentration and apoptosis rate of DNR, a P-gp protein substrate, but not of bortezomib. Bortezomib plus DNR had synergistic effect on antiproliferation (synergistic ratio > 1). Apoptosis was substantially more increased by the combination of two drugs than by bortezomib alone. Bortezomib arrested the cell cycles of three cell lines at the G2/M stage, decreased BCL2 mRNA expression, but did not affect MDR1 mRNA levels. The antiproliferative role of bortezomib was also confirmed in primary leukemia cells.

CONCLUSION

Bortezomib is a promising potential therapy for acute leukemia, especially mdr1 drug-resistant leukemia.

ηπ+ π- resonant structure around 1.8 GeV/c(2) and η(1405) in J/ψ → ωηπ+ π-

We present results of a study of the decay J/ψ → ωηπ+ π- using a sample of (225.2 ± 2.8) × 10(6) J/ψ events collected by the BESIII detector, and report the observation of a new process J/ψ → ωX(1870) with a statistical significance of 7.2σ, in which X(1870) decays to a(0)(±)(980)π±. Fitting to ηπ+ π- mass spectrum yields a mass M = 1877.3 ± 6.3(stat)(-7.4)(+3.4)(syst) MeV/c(2), a width Γ = 57 ± 12(stat)(-4)(+19)(syst) MeV/c(2), and a product branching fraction B(J/ψ → ωX) × B(X→a(0)(±)(980)π±) × B(a(0) (±)(980) → ηπ±) = [1.50 ± 0.26(stat)(-0.36)(+0.72) (syst)] × 10(-4). Signals for J/ψ → ωf(1)(1285) and J/ψ → ω η(1405) are also clearly observed and measured.

Observation of χ(c1) decays into vector meson pairs φφ, ωω, and ωφ

Using (106±4)×10⁻⁶ ψ(3686) events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e⁺e⁻ collider, we present the first measurement of decays of χ(c1) to vector meson pairs φφ, ωω, and ωφ. The branching fractions are measured to be (4.4±0.3±0.5)×10⁻⁴, (6.0±0.3±0.7)×10⁻⁴, and (2.2±0.6±0.2)×10⁻⁵, for χ(c1)→φφ, ωω, and ωφ, respectively, which indicates that the hadron helicity selection rule is significantly violated in χ(cJ) decays. In addition, the measurement of χ(cJ)→ωφ provides the first indication of the rate of doubly OZI-suppressed χ(cJ) decay. Finally, we present improved measurements for the branching fractions of χ(c0) and χ(c2) to vector meson pairs.

Sterically controlled docking of gold nanoparticles on ferritin surface by DNA hybridization

Novel assemblies of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (DNA-GNPs) have received considerable interest due to their fascinating properties which are desired for various detection applications. In this study, we present innovative GNP assemblies which have a cage-shaped protein ferritin in the center, and discrete GNPs sterically surrounding the central ferritin. These assemblies were constructed by hybridizing DNA-GNP to chemically DNA-modified ferritin, which has a hollow cavity or an iron NP core. Subsequent gel electrophoresis purification and transmission electron microscopy observation showed that ferritin/DNA/GNP assemblies were successfully constructed and can be isolated as independent functional units, which can be used to investigate not only the interaction between the GNPs of complicated GNP clusters but also the interaction between the GNPs and the internalized NP.

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided local injections of etanercept into entheses of ankylosing spondylitis patients with refractory Achilles enthesitis

OBJECTIVES

Enthesitis is one of the most common and specific manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, the treatment of enthesitis is still a challenge for rheumatologist so far, especially to those AS patients with serious enthesitis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided local injection of etanercept into entheses of AS patients with refractory Achilles enthesitis.

METHODS

Twelve AS patients with severe unilateral refractory Achilles enthesitis were enrolled. Among them, 5 patients received US-guided local injection of etanercept and the other 7 received betamethasone. BASDAI, BASFI, VAS of the affected heel, the percentage of ASAS20 responders, CRP, ESR and any adverse events were recorded at baseline, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the treatment. US was also used to evaluate the corresponding entheses at baseline and every follow-up visit.

RESULTS

The BASDAI, BASFI, VAS of the affected heel, CRP, ESR, the percentage of ASAS20 responders and the regional blood flow signals detected by colour Doppler were all improved in both the etanercept group and the betamethasone group, at each follow-up visit compared to the baseline data (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the improvements of any of the above parameters between the two groups (p>0.05). In addition, there were no adverse events from the etanercept group, except for the mild acid bilges feeling during the injection procedure, while 1 patient from the betamethasone group developed mild local atrophoderma since the week 4 follow-up visit and the atrophoderma kept stable at the 2 subsequent visits.

CONCLUSIONS

US-guided local injection of etanercept might be a highly effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for Achilles enthesitis in patients with AS.

The absence of immunoglobulin D B cell receptor-mediated signals promotes the production of autoantibodies and exacerbates glomerulonephritis in murine lupus

Immunoglobulin (Ig)D is the major antigen receptor isotype co-expressed with IgM on the surface of most peripheral B cells in mice and humans. However, the biological role of IgD as B cell receptor (BCR) has remained unclear. Previous studies have indicated that IgD may play a role in B cell tolerance. To understand the role of IgD in B cell tolerance and autoimmunity, we have examined the development of autoimmune syndrome in lpr mice deficient for IgD. The present study showed that IgD deficiency did not alter lymphoproliferation and lymphocyte activation in lpr mice. The survival and proliferation of B cells were not affected by the absence of IgD, indicating that IgD BCR-mediated signals do not have an important role in negative selection of autoreactive B cell clones. Interestingly, compared to IgD-competent littermates, lpr mice with IgD deficiency had elevated autoantibody production, increased deposition of immune complex in the kidney and more severe nephritis. Accumulation of abnormal CD4(-) CD8(-) αβ(+) T cells was accelerated in IgD(-/-) lpr mice compared to lpr mice. These results suggest that IgD BCR-mediated signals may be involved in the differentiation of autoreactive B cells into plasma cells and abnormal T cell expansion.

Computer-aided detection of breast masses depicted on full-field digital mammograms: a performance assessment

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the feasibility of converting a computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme for digitised screen-film mammograms to full-field digital mammograms (FFDMs) and assessing CAD performance on a large database.

METHODS

The database included 6478 FFDM images acquired on 1120 females, with 525 cancer cases and 595 negative cases. The database was divided into five case groups: (1) cancer detected during screening, (2) interval cancers, (3) "high-risk" recommended for surgical excision, (4) recalled but negative and (5) negative (not recalled). A previously developed CAD scheme for masses depicted on digitised images was converted and re-optimised for FFDM images while keeping the same image-processing structure. CAD performance was analysed on the entire database.

RESULTS

The case-based sensitivity was 75.6% (397/525) for the current mammograms and 40.8% (42/103) for the prior mammograms deemed negative during clinical interpretation but "visible" during retrospective review. The region-based sensitivity was 58.1% (618/1064) for the current mammograms and 28.4% (57/201) for the prior mammograms. The CAD scheme marked 55.7% (221/397) and 35.7% (15/42) of the masses on both views of the current and the prior examinations, respectively. The overall CAD-cued false-positive rate was 0.32 per image, ranging from 0.29 to 0.51 for the five case groups.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that (1) digitised image-based CAD can be converted for FFDMs while performing at a comparable, or better, level; (2) CAD detects a substantial fraction of cancers depicted on prior examinations, albeit most having been marked only on one view; and (3) CAD tends to mark more false-positive results on "difficult" negative cases that are more visually difficult for radiologists to interpret.

Ic Compatible Processing of Si:Er for optoelectronics

We have fabricated the first Si:Er LED, operating at 300 K, based on an understanding of the Si-Er-O materials system. Er-doped Si (Si:Er) provides an exciting opportunity for the monolithic integration of Si based opto-electronics. In this paper, Er-Si reactivity, and Er diffusivity and solubility have been studied to establish Si:Er process compatibility with a silicon IC fabline. Er3 Si5 is the most stable silicid formed; and it can be oxidized into Er2O3 at high temperature under any oxidizing conditions. Among Er compounds, Er2O3 luminesces and Er3Si5 and ErN do not. The diffusivity of Er in Si is low and SIMS analysis yields a diffusivity D(Er) ∼ 10−12cm2/s at 1300 C and ∼ 10−15cm2/s at 900 C, and a migration enthalpy of δHm(Er) ∼ 4.6 eV. The equilibrium solubility of Er in Si is in the range of 1016 cm−3 at 1300 C. The Si:Er LED performance is compared with GaAs LEDs to demonstrate its feasibility.

Observation of Reduced Oxidation Rates for Plasmaassisted CVD Copper Films

Oxidation kinetics of plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposited (PA-CVD) copper films were investigated using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). The PA-CVD copper films were deposited using hydrogen plasma reduction of bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato) copper(II), Cu(hfa)2, precursor. Under identical experimental conditions, PA-CVD copper films oxidize more slowly than sputtered copper films. This decrease in oxidationis manifested both as a time delay at the beginning of the oxidation of the PA-CVD copper films and as a decrease in the rate of oxide growth at oxidation temperatures of 200ºC and below. The possivation appears to be caused by the hydrogen plasma present during depostion.

Confirmation of the X(1835) and observation of the resonances X(2120) and X(2370) in J/ψ→γπ+π-η'

With a sample of (225.2±2.8)×10(6) J/ψ events registered in the BESIII detector, J/ψ→γπ(+)π(-)η(') is studied using two η(') decay modes: η(')→π(+)π(-)η and η(')→γρ(0). The X(1835), which was previously observed by BESII, is confirmed with a statistical significance that is larger than 20σ. In addition, in the π(+)π(-)η(') invariant-mass spectrum, the X(2120) and the X(2370), are observed with statistical significances larger than 7.2σ and 6.4σ, respectively. For the X(1835), the angular distribution of the radiative photon is consistent with expectations for a pseudoscalar.

Erbium Doped Silicon for Light Emitting Devices

We report on the excitation and de-excitation processes of erbium implanted in silicon and the integration of Si:Er light emitting devices (LED) with standard CMOS technology. We find two deexcitation processes, an Auger process below 100 K and a phonon mediated energy backtransfer above 100 K. We present the first optical voice link with a silicon LED as the emitter. Optical transmission system performance with our LED is possible below 200 K.

A predictive value of hyponatremia for poor outcome and cerebral infarction in high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients

BACKGROUND

The clinical significance of hyponatremia has not been investigated in high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) patients. Thus, we assessed the predictive value of hyponatremia for poor outcome or cerebral infarction in high grade patients (the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons Scale (WFNS) grade 4 or 5) after aSAH.

METHODS

Patients with WFNS grade 4 or 5 after aSAH were selected into this study between January 2005 and January 2008. In the same period, patients with WFNS grade 1, 2 or 3 after aSAH (low grade) were also chosen into this study. Hyponatremia was determined with serum sodium measurements obtained within 9 days after aSAH. Prognosis of patients was estimated with Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months. The relationship between hyponatremia and poor outcome and association of hyponatremia and cerebral infarction were analysed, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 124 high-grade patients were included in this study. Of those, 78 patients developed hyponatremia. Hyponatremia developed in 32.3% of cases between days 1 and 3 after aSAH, and 30.6% developed hyponatremia after 3 days post-aSAH. Multivariable analysis revealed that hyponatremia was not correlated with poor outcome in high-grade aSAH patients. Furthermore, only late-onset hyponatremia was correlated with cerebral infarction in these patients. Meanwhile, there was no significant correlation between hyponatremia and poor outcome or cerebral infarction in 259 low-grade aSAH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyponatremia does not predict poor outcome in all-grade aSAH patients. However, late-onset hyponatremia in high-grade aSAH patients is associated with cerebral infarction. Therefore, the appropriate management of hyponatremia could be beneficial in those patients.

Evidence for ψ' decays into γπ0 and γη

The decays ψ'→γπ(0), γη and γη' are studied using data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e(+)e(-) collider. The processes ψ'→γπ(0) and ψ'→γη are observed for the first time with signal significances of 4.6σ and 4.3σ, respectively. The branching fractions are determined to be B(ψ'→γπ(0))=(1.58±0.40±0.13)×10(-6), B(ψ'→γη)=(1.38±0.48±0.09)×10(-6), and B(ψ'→γη')=(126±3±8)×10(-6), where the first errors are statistical and the second ones systematic.

Construction of a ferritin dimer by breaking its symmetry

Ferritin has a mono-dispersed structure and biomineralization properties that allow it to form various kinds of nanoparticles and play an important role in modern nanotechnology. Independent nanoparticles synthesized in ferritin are valuable, but moreover a pair of nanoparticles can bring new properties different from those of the independent nanoparticles. In this study, by breaking ferritin's symmetry, we successfully produced ferritin dimers which provide real protein frameworks for nanoparticle dimer formation. Identical nickel hydro-oxide nanoparticle dimers were produced by simply biomineralizing ferritin dimers. The method presented here can produce multi-functional ferritin dimers with different kinds of nanoparticles.

Over-expression of talin 1 and integrin-linked kinase in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a proteomic study

OBJECTIVES

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is difficult to diagnose in its early stage due to the lack of simple and specific diagnostic indicators. This study was performed to screen candidate AS-associated proteins from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of AS patients by combining a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) technique with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.

METHODS

Twelve subjects consisting of 6 AS patients and 6 healthy volunteers (HVs) were enrolled in the 2-DE experiments. The protein expression patterns of PBMCs from different groups were analysed by PDQuest software, and the protein spots over/under-expressed by more than 2-fold between the two groups were identified by MS analysis. Western blot analyses were used to verify the differentially expressed proteins in 32 AS patients and 32 HVs.

RESULTS

Six proteins including pyruvate kinase (PK), profilin 1 (PFN1), talin 1 (TLN1), Chain A of cyclophilin A (CyPA), unknown protein (gi|16306948) and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) were identified from 10 over-expressed protein spots found by 2-DE in the AS group. Western blot experiments confirmed a higher expression of both TLN1 and ILK in AS group compared to the HV group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TLN1 and ILK expressed higher in PBMCs of AS patients compared to healthy controls, which were involved in the integrin signalling pathway. The two proteins are likely novel disease-associated proteins and potential disease markers of AS.

Molecular characterization of erm(B)- and mef(E)-mediated erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in China and complete DNA sequence of Tn2010

AIMS

To characterize the erm(B)- and mef(E)-mediated erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical isolates obtained from ten hospitals located different cities in China.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Totally 83 S. pneumoniae were collected, and eighteen representative strains of 66 strains that exhibited erythromycin resistance were used for further characterization by antibiograms, serotyping, PFGE, MLST, DNA sequencing of the macrolide-resistance elements and mapping of the elements on the chromosome. Twelve isolates showed a high-level resistance to erythromycin, and six other isolates showed a low-level resistance to erythromycin. Thirteen isolates harboured a Tn2010 transposon (26·4 kbp) encoding the erm(B), tet(M) and mef(E) genes and were classified into three types by Tn2010 structures. The remaining five isolates harboured a Tn6002 transposon (20·9 kbp) encoding the erm(B) and tet(M) genes and were classified into three types by Tn6002 locations on the chromosome. Three of the Tn6002 elements were located within the Tn5252-like element, implying that these composed a large mobile element. The MLST analyses showed that several clones had been disseminated and that the CC271 strains carrying the Tn2010 element expressing the high-level resistance to erythromycin were predominant in China. Four new MLST strains, which were designated as ST3262, ST3263, ST3397 and ST3398 were also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The erythromycin resistance determinant of S.pneumoniae that had been isolated in China was located in Tn2010 or the Tn6002 element and several clones had been disseminated, and the CC271 strains carrying the Tn2010 element expressing the high-level resistance to erythromycin were predominant in China.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first molecular analysis of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical isolates in China, and the first report of the complete nucleotide sequence of Tn2010 (26,390 bp).

Dynamic effect of overhangs and islands at the depinning transition in two-dimensional magnets

With the Monte Carlo methods, we systematically investigate the short-time dynamics of domain-wall motion in the two-dimensional random-field Ising model with a driving field (DRFIM). We accurately determine the depinning transition field and critical exponents. Through two different definitions of the domain interface, we examine the dynamics of overhangs and islands. At the depinning transition, the dynamic effect of overhangs and islands reaches maximum. We argue that this should be an important mechanism leading the DRFIM model to a different universality class from the Edwards-Wilkinson equation with quenched disorder.