First analysis of cancer incidence and occupational radiation exposure based on the National Dose Registry of Canada

A cohort study was conducted to investigate the relation between cancer incidence and occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. Records containing dose information from 1951 to 1988 for 191,333 persons were extracted from the National Dose Registry of Canada. The records were linked to the Canadian Cancer Data Base, with incidence data from 1969 to 1988. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated using Canadian cancer incidence rates stratified by age, sex, and calendar year. Excess relative risks were obtained from internally based dose-response analyses. The following significant results were found for males and females combined: a deficit in the standardized incidence ratio for all cancers combined; elevated standardized incidence ratios for thyroid cancer and melanoma; and elevated excess relative risks for rectum, leukemia, lung, all cancers combined, all except lung, and all except leukemia. For males, cancers of the colon, pancreas, and testis also showed significantly elevated excess relative risks. The specific cancer types listed above have been implicated in previous studies on occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, except for testis, colon, and melanoma, while the findings on thyroid cancer from previous studies are inconclusive. The thyroid standardized incidence ratios in this study are highly significant, but further investigation is needed to assess the possibility of association with occupational radiation exposure.

Selective G protein coupling by C-C chemokine receptors

The C-C chemokines are major mediators of chemotaxis of monocytes and some T cells in inflammatory reactions. The pathways by which the C-C chemokine receptors activate phospholipase C (PLC) were investigated in cotransfected COS-7 cells. The C-C chemokine receptor-1 (CKR-1), the MCP-1 receptor-A (MCP-1Ra), and MCP-1Rb can reconstitute ligand-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates with PLC beta2 in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner, presumably through G beta gamma released from the Gi proteins. However, these three receptors demonstrated different specificity in coupling to the alpha subunits of the Gq class. While none of the receptors can couple to Galphaq/11, MCP-1Rb can couple to both Galpha14 and Galpha16, but its splicing variant, MCP-1Rb, cannot. Since MCP-1Ra and -b differ only in their C-terminal intracellular domains, the C-terminal ends of MCP-1Rs determine G protein coupling specificity. CKR-1 can couple to Galpha14 but not to Galpha16, suggesting some of the C-C chemokine receptors, unlike the C-X-C chemokine receptors, discriminate against Galpha16, a hematopoietic-specific Galpha subunit. The intriguing specificity in coupling of the Gq class of G proteins implies that the chemokines may be involved in some distinct functions in vivo. The commonality of the chemokine receptors in coupling to the Gi-Gbetagamma-PLC beta2 pathway provides a potential target for developing broad spectrum anti-inflammatory drugs.

Human catechol-O-methyltransferase down-regulation by estradiol

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a crucial enzyme in dopamine and levodopa metabolism. Previously we reported that physiological concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2) down-regulated steady-state 1.3-kb COMT mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells. In this study, we investigated whether similar reductions occurred in a glial cell line (U138MG) and whether COMT protein and activity levels paralleled the reduction in COMT mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells. In addition, we explored the mechanism of E2 action. E2 had no effect on COMT mRNA levels in U138MG cells, but significantly reduced COMT protein and activity in MCF-7 cells (activity by 53% at 10(-7) M of E2, by 45% at 10(-8) M, and by 28% at 10(-9) M relative to non-E2-treated cells). A specific estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182780) blocked these estrogenic effects. Estrogen receptor in nuclear extracts of MCF-7 cells, which were pretreated with E2 (10(-9) M) for 48 h, bound to the whole proximal and distal promoter regions, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA). We propose that E2 decreased COMT activity through down-regulation of its gene and protein expression mediated via ER interaction with response elements in the promoter region of the gene. Our findings may explain the lower of COMT activity in women compared to that in men, and, in part, the beneficial effects of E2 therapy in post-menopausal Parkinson's disease patients.

The carriage of Escherichia coli resistant to antimicrobial agents by healthy children in Boston, in Caracas, Venezuela, and in Qin Pu, China

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

The healthy members of a community represent its largest reservoir of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents. We compared the resistance to eight agents of Escherichia coli in stool samples from untreated, healthy children in cities on three continents.

RESULTS

When screened by a selective method that detected 1 resistant colony in 10,000 colonies, nearly half the children in Boston (18 of 39) had no resistant colonies--a finding consistent with the findings of other surveys performed in developed countries. However, all but 1 of 41 children screened in Caracas, Venezuela, and all but 2 of 53 in Qin Pu, China, carried resistant strains. Only 1 child in Boston but 25 in Caracas and 34 in Qin Pu carried strains resistant to trimethoprim. None of the children in Boston or Caracas but 17 in Qin Pu carried strains resistant to gentamicin. Among 10 colonies selected randomly from each stool sample, the average frequency of resistance in Caracas was 3.6 times greater than in Boston, and that in Qin Pu was 5.3 times greater. There was resistance to five or more antimicrobial agents in 20 percent of the Qin Pu strains and in 6 percent of the Caracas strains but in none of the Boston strains.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to clinical isolates, as reported previously, the bacteria that colonize health children in the community may be resistant far more often in some regions than in others. A low rate of carriage of antimicrobial resistance in the community should become a public health goal.

Direct association between the yeast Rad51 and Rad54 recombination proteins

The RAD54 and RAD51 genes are involved in genetic recombination and double-strand break repair in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Rad51 protein is thought to be a yeast analogue of the Eschericia coli recA gene product and catalyzes strand exchange between homologous single- and double-stranded DNAs in vitro. RAD54 exhibits homologies to several known ATPases and is a member of the SWI2/MOT1 family. We show here that the Rad54 protein interacts with the Rad51 protein in vivo and in vitro and that the NH2-terminal 115 residues of the Rad54 protein are necessary for this interaction. Combined with previously reported results, these data imply that the Rad54 protein is part of a multiprotein yeast recombination complex.

Noise trauma impairs neurogenesis in the rat hippocampus

The hippocampus, a major site of neurogenesis in the adult brain, plays an important role in memory. Based on earlier observations where exposure to high-intensity noise not only caused hearing loss but also impaired memory function, it is conceivably that noise exposure may suppress hippocampal neurogenesis. To evaluate this possibility, nine rats were unilaterally exposed for 2 h to a high-intensity, narrow band of noise centered at 12 kHz at 126 dB SPL. The rats were also screened for noise-induced tinnitus, a potential stressor which may suppress neurogenesis. Five rats developed persistent tinnitus-like behavior while the other four rats showed no signs of tinnitus. Age-matched sham controls showed no signs of hearing loss or tinnitus. The inner ear and hippocampus were evaluated for sensory hair cell loss and neurogenesis 10 weeks post-exposure. All noise exposed rats showed severe loss of sensory hair cells in the noise-exposed ear, but essentially no damage in the unexposed ear. Frontal sections from the hippocampus were immunolabeled for doublecortin to identify neuronal precursor cells, or Ki67 to label proliferating cells. Noise-exposed rats showed a significant reduction of neuronal precursors and fewer dividing cells as compared to sham controls. However, we could not detect any difference between rats with behavioral evidence of tinnitus versus rats without tinnitus. These results show for the first time that high intensity noise exposure not only damages the cochlea but also causes a significant and persistent decrease in hippocampal neurogenesis that may contribute to functional deficits in memory.

The specific regulation of immune responses by CD8+ T cells restricted by the MHC class Ib molecule, Qa-1

Over the last three decades considerable evidence has accumulated that CD8(+) T cells regulate peripheral immune responses, in part, by specifically controlling the outgrowth of antigen-triggered CD4(+) T cells. This regulatory function of CD8(+) T cells has been shown, in vivo, to control the emergence of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells as well as CD4(+) T cells reactive to conventional antigens, including alloantigens. In this review, we summarize the evidence that this immune suppression mediated by CD8(+) T cells is dependent, in part, on specific cognate interactions between MHC class I-restricted regulatory CD8(+) cells and antigen-activated CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, we review the evidence that regulatory CD8(+) T cells recognize antigen-activated CD4(+) T cells in a TCR specific manner restricted by the MHC class Ib molecule, Qa-1. The Qa-1 molecule may be uniquely qualified to serve this MHC restrictive function because, unlike conventional MHC molecules, it is preferentially and transiently expressed on activated and not resting CD4(+) T cells. This may assure that only recently antigen-activated CD4(+) T cells expressing Qa-1/TCR peptide complexes will induce regulatory CD8(+) T cells and subsequently become susceptible to regulation. Because Qa-1 also binds to self Qdm peptides that trigger NK (CD94/ NKG2) receptors on CD8(+) T cells, the machinery for homeostatic regulation of regulatory CD8(+) T cells can be envisioned. Finally, we propose a model by which these TCR specific, Qa-1-restricted regulatory CD8(+) T cells selectively downregulate antigen-activated T cells expressing TCRs of certain affinities. Ultimately these regulatory CD8(+) T cells control the peripheral TCR repertoire during the course of immune responses to both self and foreign antigens.

Diffusion tensor imaging in children with periventricular leukomalacia: variability of injuries to white matter tracts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Conventional MR imaging shows evidence of brain injury and/or maldevelopment in 70%-90% of children with cerebral palsy (CP), though its capability to identify specific white matter tract injury is limited. The great variability of white matter lesions in CP already demonstrated by postmortem studies is thought to be one of the reasons why response to treatment is so variable. Our hypothesis is that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a suitable technique to provide in vivo characterization of specific white matter tract lesions in children with CP associated with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 24 children with CP associated with PVL and 35 healthy controls were evaluated with DTI. Criteria for identification of 26 white matter tracts on the basis of 2D DTI color-coded maps were established, and a qualitative scoring system, based on visual inspection of the tracts in comparison with age-matched controls, was used to grade the severity of abnormalities. An ordinal grading system (0=normal, 1=abnormal, 2=severely abnormal or absent) was used to score each white matter tract.

RESULTS

There was marked variability in white matter injury pattern in patients with PVL, with the most frequent injury to the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, posterior thalamic radiation, superior corona radiata, and commissural fibers.

CONCLUSION

DTI is a suitable technique for in vivo assessment of specific white matter lesions in patients with PVL and, thus, a potentially valuable diagnostic tool. The tract-specific evaluation revealed a family of tracts that are highly susceptible in PVL, important information that can potentially be used to tailor treatment options in the future.

Complement 1 inhibitor is a regulator of the alternative complement pathway

We studied complement 1 inhibitor (C1-INH) as an inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway. C1-INH prevented lysis, induced by the alternative complement pathway, of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) erythrocytes in human serum. It inhibited the binding of both factors B and C3 to PNH and rabbit erythrocytes and blocked the ability of factor B to restore alternative-pathway function in factor B-depleted serum. C1-INH did not bind to factors B or D but did bind to immobilized C3b and cobra venom factor (CVF), a C3b analogue. C1-INH prevented factor B from binding to CVF-coated beads and dissociated bound factor B from such beads. Factor B and C1-INH showed cross competition in binding to CVF-coated beads. Factor D cleaved factor B into Bb and Ba in the presence of C3b. Cleavage was markedly inhibited when C3b was preincubated with C1-INH. C1-INH inhibited the formation of CVFBb and decreased the C3 cleavage. Removal of C1-INH from serum, in the presence of Mg-EGTA with an anti-C1-INH immunoabsorbant, markedly increased alternative-pathway lysis. C1-INH interacts with C3b to inhibit binding of factor B to C3b. At physiologic concentrations, it is a downregulator of the alternative pathway convertase.

Characterization and functional analysis of 12 naturally occurring reactive site variants of serpin-1 from Manduca sexta

Serpin gene-1 from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, encodes, through alternative exon usage, 12 reactive site variants (Jiang, H., Wang, Y. and Kanost, M. R., (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 55-58; Jiang, H., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Mulnix, A. B., Kadel, J., Cole, K., and Kanost, M. R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 28017-28023). These 43-kDa proteins differ from each other only in their COOH-terminal 39-46 residues, which include the reactive site. To test the hypothesis that these proteins are proteinase inhibitors of diverse selectivities and to begin to elucidate their physiological functions, we expressed the 12 serpin-1 variants in Escherichia coli. Seven of the variants inhibited mammalian serine proteinases, with association rate constants comparable with those of human serpins. Serpin-1A, with a P1 Arg residue, inhibited both trypsin and plasmin. Serpin-1B (P1 Ala) and serpin-1F (P1 Val) inhibited porcine pancreatic elastase and human neutrophil elastase. Serpin-1H, -1K, and -1Z, all with a Tyr residue at the P1 position, inhibited chymotrypsin and cathepsin G. Serpin-1I (P1 Leu) inhibited both elastase and chymotrypsin. Nine of the serpin variants were active as inhibitors of microbial serine proteinases, including subtilisin Carlsberg, proteinase K, and two proteinases secreted by an entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae. In addition, one of the serpin variants, serpin-1J, strongly inhibited activation of M. sexta hemolymph phenoloxidase, a pathway involving a serine proteinase cascade. This pathway is a component of the defensive response of insects to microbial infection. These results suggest that the products of M. sexta serpin gene-1 may be important in regulating both exogenous and endogenous serine proteinases in hemolymph.

Improvement of hemocompatibility of polycaprolactone film surfaces with zwitterionic polymer brushes

Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been widely adopted as a scaffold biomaterial, but further improvement of the hemocompatibility of a PCL film surface is still needed for wide biomedical applications. In this work, the PCL film surface was functionalized with zwitterionic poly(3-dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate) (P(DMAPS)) brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for enhancing hemocompatibility. Kinetics study revealed an approximately linear increase in graft yield of the functional P(DMAPS) brushes with polymerization time. The blood compatibilities of the modified PCL film surfaces were studied by platelet adhesion tests of platelet-rich plasma and human whole blood, hemolysis assay, and plasma recalcification time (PRT) assay. The improvement of hemocompatibility is dependent on the coverage of the grafted P(DMAPS) brushes on the PCL film. Lower or no platelet and blood cell adhesion was observed on the P(DMAPS)-grafted film surfaces. The P(DMAPS) grafting can further decrease hemolysis and enhance the PRT of the PCL surface. With the versatility of surface-initiated ATRP and the excellent hemocompatibility of zwitterionic polymer brushes, PCL films with desirable blood properties can be readily tailored to cater to various biomedical applications.

Three-dimensional visualization of tegument/capsid interactions in the intact human cytomegalovirus

The three-dimensional structure of the intact human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was determined to 18-A resolution by electron cryomicroscopy and computer reconstruction. Its capsid shell is composed of pentons, hexons, and triplexes arranged on a T = 16 icosahedral lattice and is identical to that of the B-capsid isolated from host cell nuclei. An icosahedrally ordered tegument layer formed by 960 copies of filamentous density is also visualized, which interacts with the pentons, hexons, and triplexes of the underlying capsid. The observed structural similarities and differences of HCMV with those of herpes simplex virus offer insights into the significance of the different tegument components for their infection processes while maintaining similar capsids.

PCAF interacts with tax and stimulates tax transactivation in a histone acetyltransferase-independent manner

Recent studies have shown that the p300/CREB binding protein (CBP)-associated factor (PCAF) is involved in transcriptional activation. PCAF activity has been shown strongly associated with histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. In this report, we present evidence for a HAT-independent transcription function that is activated in the presence of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax protein. In vitro and in vivo GST-Tax pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that there is a direct interaction between Tax and PCAF, independent of p300/CBP. PCAF can be recruited to the HTLV-1 Tax responsive element in the presence of Tax, and PCAF cooperates with Tax in vivo to activate transcription from the HTLV-1 LTR over 10-fold. Point mutations at Tax amino acid 318 (TaxS318A) or 319 to 320 (Tax M47), which have decreased or no activity on the HTLV-1 promoter, are defective for PCAF binding. Strikingly, the ability of PCAF to stimulate Tax transactivation is not solely dependent on the PCAF HAT domain. Two independent PCAF HAT mutants, which knock out acetyltransferase enzyme activity, activate Tax transactivation to approximately the same level as wild-type PCAF. In contrast, p300 stimulation of Tax transactivation is HAT dependent. These studies provide experimental evidence that PCAF contains a coactivator transcription function independent of the HAT activity on the viral long terminal repeat.

Roles of phospholipase C beta2 in chemoattractant-elicited responses

The physiological roles of phospholipase C (PLC) beta2 in hematopoiesis, leukocyte function, and host defense against infection were investigated using a mouse line that lacks PLC beta2. PLC beta2 deficiency did not affect hematopoiesis, but it blocked chemoattractant-induced Ca2+ release, superoxide production, and MAC-1 up-regulation in neutrophils. In view of these effects, it was surprising that the absence of PLC beta2 enhanced chemotaxis of different leukocyte populations and sensitized the in vivo response of the PLC beta2-deficient mice to bacteria, viruses, and immune complexes. These data raise questions about the roles that PLC beta2 may play in signal transduction induced by chemoattractants in leukocytes.

Frequent PD-L1 expression in primary and metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma: potential opportunities for immunotherapeutic approaches

BACKGROUND

Despite aggressive multimodal therapy, locally advanced and/or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, indicating a need for new therapeutic options. Given the emerging clinical utility of immunotherapeutics, we sought to assess the incidence and potential clinical significance of PD-L1 expression in penile SqCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using an anti-PD-L1 primary antibody (clone 5H1), immunohistochemistry was carried out on whole tumor sections from 37 patients with penile SqCC treated at our institution between 2005 and 2013. PD-L1-positive tumors were defined as those with membranous staining in ≥5% of tumor cells. Association between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was examined using Fisher's exact test. Correlation between PD-L1 expression in primary tumors and matched metastases was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ). The difference in cancer-specific mortality between PD-L1-positive and -negative groups was examined using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (62.2%) of 37 primary tumors were positive for PD-L1 expression, and there was strong positive correlation of PD-L1 expression in primary and metastatic samples (ρ = 0.72; 0.032 < P < 0.036). Primary tumor PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with usual type histology (P = 0.040) and regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.024), as well as decreased cancer-specific survival (P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of primary penile SqCC tumors express PD-L1, which is associated with high-risk clinicopathologic features and poor clinical outcome. These data provide a rational basis for further investigation of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immunotherapeutics in patients with advanced penile SqCC.

Characterization of AGT1 encoding a general alpha-glucoside transporter from Saccharomyces

Molecular genetic analysis is used to characterize the AGT1 gene encoding an alpha-glucoside transporter. AGT1 is found in many Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strains and maps to a naturally occurring, partially functional allele of the MAL1 locus. Agt1p is a highly hydrophobic, postulated integral membrane protein. It is 57% identical to Mal61p, the maltose permease encoded at MAL6, and is also a member of the 12 transmembrane domain superfamily of sugar transporters. Like Mal61p, Agt1p is a high-affinity, maltose/proton symporter, but Mal61p is capable of transporting only maltose and turanose, while Agt1p transports these two alpha-glucosides as well as several others including isomaltose, alpha-methylglucoside, maltotriose, palatinose, trehalose and melezitose. AGT1 expression is maltose inducible and induction is mediated by the Mal-activator. The sequence of the upstream region of AGT1 is identical to that of the maltose-inducible MAL61 gene over a 469 bp region containing the UASMAL but the 315 bp sequence immediately upstream of AGT1 shows no significant homology to the sequence immediately upstream of MAL61. The evolutionary origin of the MAL1 allele to which AGT1 maps and the relationship of AGT1 to other alpha-glucoside fermentation genes is discussed.

Telomere shortening and ageing

Telomeres form the ends of human chromosomes. Telomeres shorten with each round of cell division and this mechanism limits proliferation of human cells to a finite number of cell divisions by inducing replicative senescence, differentiation, or apoptosis. Telomere shortening can act as a tumor suppressor. However, as a downside, there is growing evidence indicating that telomere shortening also limits stem cell function, regeneration, and organ maintenance during ageing. Moreover, telomere shortening during ageing and disease is associated with increasing cancer risk. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on the role of telomere shortening in human ageing, chronic diseases, and cancer.

Initial assessment of a simple system for frequency domain diffuse optical tomography

Diffuse optical tomography is an imaging technique whereby spatial maps of absorption and scattering coefficients are derived from the characteristics of multiply scattered light transmitted through the object. The system described here used four intensity-modulated light sources and measurements of the intensity and phase (relative to each source) at 16 or 20 detectors on the surface of a 10 cm diameter cylinder. An iterative Newton-Raphson algorithm was used to estimate the absorption and scattering coefficients at each pixel in a 17 x 17 array minimizing the difference between measured and calculated values of the intensity and phase at the measurement sites. Forward calculations of the intensity and phase were based on a multigrid finite-difference solution of the frequency domain diffusion equation. Numerical simulations were used to examine the resolution, contrast, and accuracy of the reconstructions as well as the effects of measurement noise, systematic uncertainties in source-detector location, and accuracy of the initial estimates for the optical properties. Experimental tests also confirmed that the system could identify and locate both scattering and absorbing inhomogeneities in a tissue-simulating phantom.

Panagiotopoulou E, Panagoulias I, Pandini CE, Panduro Vazquez JG, Pani P, Panitkin S, Pantea D, Paolozzi L, Papadopoulou TD, Papageorgiou K, Paramonov A, Paredes Hernandez D, Parker AJ, Parker MA, Parker KA, Parodi F, Parsons JA, Parzefall U, Pascuzzi VR, Pasqualucci E, Passaggio S, Pastore F, Pásztor G, Pataraia S, Pater JR, Pauly T, Pearce J, Pearson B, Pedersen LE, Pedersen M, Pedraza Lopez S, Pedro R, Peleganchuk SV, Penc O, Peng C, Peng H, Penwell J, Peralva BS, Perego MM, Perepelitsa DV, Perez Codina E, Perini L, Pernegger H, Perrella S, Peschke R, Peshekhonov VD, Peters K, Peters RFY, Petersen BA, Petersen TC, Petit E, Petridis A, Petridou C, Petroff P, Petrolo E, Petrov M, Petrucci F, Pettersson NE, Peyaud A, Pezoa R, Phillips PW, Piacquadio G, Pianori E, Picazio A, Piccaro E, Piccinini M, Pickering MA, Piegaia R, Pilcher JE, Pilkington AD, Pin AWJ, Pinamonti M, Pinfold JL, Pingel A, Pires S, Pirumov H, Pitt M, Plazak L, Pleier MA, Pleskot V, Plotnikova E, Pluth D, Poettgen R, Poggioli L, Pohl D, Polesello G, Poley A, Policicchio A, Polifka R, Polini A, Pollard CS, Polychronakos V, Pommès K, Pontecorvo L, Pope BG, Popeneciu GA, Poppleton A, Pospisil S, Potamianos K, Potrap IN, Potter CJ, Potter CT, Poulard G, Poveda J, Pozdnyakov V, Pozo Astigarraga ME, Pralavorio P, Pranko A, Prell S, Price D, Price LE, Primavera M, Prince S, Prokofiev K, Prokoshin F, Protopopescu S, Proudfoot J, Przybycien M, Puddu D, Purohit M, Puzo P, Qian J, Qin G, Qin Y, Quadt A, Quayle WB, Queitsch-Maitland M, Quilty D, Raddum S, Radeka V, Radescu V, Radhakrishnan SK, Radloff P, Rados P, Ragusa F, Rahal G, Raine JA, Rajagopalan S, Rammensee M, Rangel-Smith C, Ratti MG, Rauch DM, Rauscher F, Rave S, Ravenscroft T, Ravinovich I, Raymond M, Read AL, Readioff NP, Reale M, Rebuzzi DM, Redelbach A, Redlinger G, Reece R, Reed RG, Reeves K, Rehnisch L, Reichert J, Reiss A, Rembser C, Ren H, Rescigno M, Resconi S, Rezanova OL, Reznicek P, Rezvani R, Richter R, Richter S, Richter-Was E, Ricken O, Ridel M, Rieck P, Riegel CJ, Rieger J, Rifki O, Rijssenbeek M, Rimoldi A, Rimoldi M, Rinaldi L, Ristić B, Ritsch E, Riu I, Rizatdinova F, Rizvi E, Rizzi C, Robertson SH, Robichaud-Veronneau A, Robinson D, Robinson JEM, Robson A, Roda C, Rodina Y, Rodriguez Perez A, Rodriguez Rodriguez D, Roe S, Rogan CS, Røhne O, Roloff J, Romaniouk A, Romano M, Romano Saez SM, Romero Adam E, Rompotis N, Ronzani M, Roos L, Ros E, Rosati S, Rosbach K, Rose P, Rosien NA, Rossetti V, Rossi E, Rossi LP, Rosten JHN, Rosten R, Rotaru M, Roth I, Rothberg J, Rousseau D, Rozanov A, Rozen Y, Ruan X, Rubbo F, Rudolph MS, Rühr F, Ruiz-Martinez A, Rurikova Z, Rusakovich NA, Ruschke A, Russell HL, Rutherfoord JP, Ruthmann N, Ryabov YF, Rybar M, Rybkin G, Ryu S, Ryzhov A, Rzehorz GF, Saavedra AF, Sabato G, Sacerdoti S, Sadrozinski HFW, Sadykov R, Safai Tehrani F, Saha P, Sahinsoy M, Saimpert M, Saito T, Sakamoto H, Sakurai Y, Salamanna G, Salamon A, Salazar Loyola JE, Salek D, Sales De Bruin PH, Salihagic D, Salnikov A, Salt J, Salvatore D, Salvatore F, Salvucci A, Salzburger A, Sammel D, Sampsonidis D, Sánchez J, Sanchez Martinez V, Sanchez Pineda A, Sandaker H, Sandbach RL, Sandhoff M, Sandoval C, Sankey DPC, Sannino M, Sansoni A, Santoni C, Santonico R, Santos H, Santoyo Castillo I, Sapp K, Sapronov A, Saraiva JG, Sarrazin B, Sasaki O, Sato K, Sauvan E, Savage G, Savard P, Savic N, Sawyer C, Sawyer L, Saxon J, Sbarra C, Sbrizzi A, Scanlon T, Scannicchio DA, Scarcella M, Scarfone V, Schaarschmidt J, Schacht P, Schachtner BM, Schaefer D, Schaefer L, Schaefer R, Schaeffer J, Schaepe S, Schaetzel S, Schäfer U, Schaffer AC, Schaile D, Schamberger RD, Scharf V, Schegelsky VA, Scheirich D, Schernau M, Schiavi C, Schier S, Schillo C, Schioppa M, Schlenker S, Schmidt-Sommerfeld KR, Schmieden K, Schmitt C, Schmitt S, Schmitz S, Schneider B, Schnoor U, Schoeffel L, Schoening A, Schoenrock BD, Schopf E, Schott M, Schouwenberg JFP, Schovancova J, Schramm S, Schreyer M, Schuh N, Schulte A, Schultens MJ, Schultz-Coulon HC, Schulz H, Schumacher M, Schumm BA, Schune P, Schwartzman A, Schwarz TA, Schweiger H, Schwemling P, Schwienhorst R, Schwindling J, Schwindt T, Sciolla G, Scuri F, Scutti F, Searcy J, Seema P, Seidel SC, Seiden A, Seifert F, Seixas JM, Sekhniaidze G, Sekhon K, Sekula SJ, Seliverstov DM, Semprini-Cesari N, Serfon C, Serin L, Serkin L, Sessa M, Seuster R, Severini H, Sfiligoj T, Sforza F, Sfyrla A, Shabalina E, Shaikh NW, Shan LY, Shang R, Shank JT, Shapiro M, Shatalov PB, Shaw K, Shaw SM, Shcherbakova A, Shehu CY, Sherwood P, Shi L, Shimizu S, Shimmin CO, Shimojima M, Shirabe S, Shiyakova M, Shmeleva A, Shoaleh Saadi D, Shochet MJ, Shojaii S, Shope DR, Shrestha S, Shulga E, Shupe MA, Sicho P, Sickles AM, Sidebo PE, Sideras Haddad E, Sidiropoulou O, Sidorov D, Sidoti A, Siegert F, Sijacki D, Silva J, Silverstein SB, Simak V, Simic L, Simion S, Simioni E, Simmons B, Simon D, Simon M, Sinervo P, Sinev NB, Sioli M, Siragusa G, Sivoklokov SY, Sjölin J, Skinner MB, Skottowe HP, Skubic P, Slater M, Slavicek T, Slawinska M, Sliwa K, Slovak R, Smakhtin V, Smart BH, Smestad L, Smiesko J, Smirnov SY, Smirnov Y, Smirnova LN, Smirnova O, Smith JW, Smith MNK, Smith RW, Smizanska M, Smolek K, Snesarev AA, Snyder IM, Snyder S, Sobie R, Socher F, Soffer A, Soh DA, Sokhrannyi G, Solans Sanchez CA, Solar M, Soldatov EY, Soldevila U, Solodkov AA, Soloshenko A, Solovyanov OV, Solovyev V, Sommer P, Son H, Song HY, Sood A, Sopczak A, Sopko V, Sorin V, Sosa D, Sotiropoulou CL, Soualah R, Soukharev AM, South D, Sowden BC, Spagnolo S, Spalla M, Spangenberg M, Spanò F, Sperlich D, Spettel F, Spieker TM, Spighi R, Spigo G, Spiller LA, Spousta M, St. Denis RD, Stabile A, Stamen R, Stamm S, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stanescu-Bellu M, Stanitzki MM, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark GH, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Stärz S, Staszewski R, Steinberg P, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockton MC, Stoebe M, Stoicea 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Xu D, Xu L, Yabsley B, Yacoob S, Yamaguchi D, Yamaguchi Y, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto S, Yamanaka T, Yamauchi K, Yamazaki Y, Yan Z, Yang H, Yang H, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yao WM, Yap YC, Yasu Y, Yatsenko E, Yau Wong KH, Ye J, Ye S, Yeletskikh I, Yildirim E, Yorita K, Yoshida R, Yoshihara K, Young C, Young CJS, Youssef S, Yu DR, Yu J, Yu JM, Yu J, Yuan L, Yuen SPY, Yusuff I, Zabinski B, Zacharis G, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zakharchuk N, Zalieckas J, Zaman A, Zambito S, Zanello L, Zanzi D, Zeitnitz C, Zeman M, Zemla A, Zeng JC, Zeng Q, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zerwas D, Zhang D, Zhang F, Zhang G, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang L, Zhang L, Zhang M, Zhang R, Zhang R, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao X, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou C, Zhou L, Zhou L, Zhou M, Zhou N, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu J, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhukov K, Zibell A, Zieminska D, Zimine NI, Zimmermann C, Zimmermann S, Zinonos Z, Zinser M, Ziolkowski M, Živković L, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, zur Nedden M, Zwalinski L. Performance of the ATLAS trigger system in 2015

During 2015 the ATLAS experiment recorded [Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text]. The ATLAS trigger system is a crucial component of the experiment, responsible for selecting events of interest at a recording rate of approximately 1 kHz from up to 40 MHz of collisions. This paper presents a short overview of the changes to the trigger and data acquisition systems during the first long shutdown of the LHC and shows the performance of the trigger system and its components based on the 2015 proton-proton collision data.

A multi-centre randomised trial comparing ultrasound vs mammography for screening breast cancer in high-risk Chinese women

Background:

Chinese women tend to have small and dense breasts and ultrasound is a common method for breast cancer screening in China. However, its efficacy and cost comparing with mammography has not been evaluated in randomised trials.

Methods:

At 14 breast centres across China during 2008–2010, 13 339 high-risk women aged 30–65 years were randomised to be screened by mammography alone, ultrasound alone, or by both methods at enrolment and 1-year follow-up.

Results:

A total of 12 519 and 8692 women underwent the initial and second screenings, respectively. Among the 30 cancers (of which 15 were stage 0/I) detected, 5 (0.72/1000) were in the mammography group, 11 (1.51/1000) in the ultrasound group, and 14 (2.02/1000) in the combined group (P=0.12). In the combined group, ultrasound detected all the 14 cancers, whereas mammography detected 8, making ultrasound more sensitive (100 vs 57.1%, P=0.04) with a better diagnostic accuracy (0.999 vs 0.766, P=0.01). There was no difference between mammography and ultrasound in specificity (100 vs 99.9%, P=0.51) and positive predictive value (72.7 vs 70.0% P=0.87). To detect one cancer, the costs of ultrasound, mammography, and combined modality were $7876, $45 253, and $21 599, respectively.

Conclusions:

Ultrasound is superior to mammography for breast cancer screening in high-risk Chinese women.

Functional association between Arf and RalA in active phospholipase D complex

Activation of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) by Arf has been implicated in vesicle transport and membrane trafficking. PLD1 has also been shown to be associated with the small GTPase RalA, which functions downstream from Ras in a Ras-RalA GTPase cascade that facilitates intracellular signal transduction. Although PLD1 associates directly with RalA, RalA has no effect upon the activity of PLD1. However, PLD1 precipitated from cell lysates with immobilized glutathione S-transferase-RalA fusion protein is active. This suggests the presence of an additional activating factor in the active RalA-PLD1 complexes. Because Arf stimulates PLD1, we looked for the presence of Arf in the active RalA-PLD1 complexes isolated from v-Src- and v-Ras-transformed cell lysates. Low levels of Arf protein were detected in RalA-PLD1 complexes; however, if guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate was added to activate Arf and stimulate translocation to the membrane, high levels of Arf were precipitated by RalA from cell lysates. Interestingly, deletion of 11 amino-terminal amino acids unique to Ral GTPases, which abolished the ability of RalA to precipitate PLD activity, prevented the association between RalA and Arf. Brefeldin A, which inhibits Arf GDP-GTP exchange, inhibited PLD activity in v-Src- and v-Ras-transformed cells but not in the nontransformed cells, suggesting that the association of Arf with RalA is required for the increased PLD activity induced by v-Src and v-Ras. These data implicate Arf in the transduction of intracellular signals activated by v-Src and mediated by the Ras-RalA GTPase cascade. Because both Arf and PLD1 stimulate vesicle formation in the Golgi, these data raise the possibility that vesicle formation and trafficking may play a role in the transduction of intracellular signals.

T cell vaccination induces T cell receptor Vbeta-specific Qa-1-restricted regulatory CD8(+) T cells

Vaccination of mice with activated autoantigen-reactive CD4(+) T cells (T cell vaccination, TCV) has been shown to induce protection from the subsequent induction of a variety of experimental autoimmune diseases, including experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Although the mechanisms involved in TCV-mediated protection are not completely known, there is some evidence that TCV induces CD8(+) regulatory T cells that are specific for pathogenic CD4(+) T cells. Previously, we demonstrated that, after superantigen administration in vivo, CD8(+) T cells emerge that preferentially lyse and regulate activated autologous CD4(+) T cells in a T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta-specific manner. This TCR Vbeta-specific regulation is not observed in beta2-microglobulin-deficient mice and is inhibited, in vitro, by antibody to Qa-1. We now show that similar Vbeta8-specific Qa-1-restricted CD8(+) T cells are also induced by TCV with activated CD4(+) Vbeta8(+) T cells. These CD8(+) T cells specifically lyse murine or human transfectants coexpressing Qa-1 and murine TCR Vbeta8. Further, CD8(+) T cell hybridoma clones generated from B10.PL mice vaccinated with a myelin basic protein-specific CD4(+)Vbeta8(+) T cell clone specifically recognize other CD4(+) T cells and T cell tumors that express Vbeta8 and the syngeneic Qa-1(a) but not the allogeneic Qa-1(b) molecule. Thus, Vbeta-specific Qa-1-restricted CD8(+) T cells are induced by activated CD4(+) T cells. We suggest that these CD8(+) T cells may function to specifically regulate activated CD4(+) T cells during immune responses.

Genetic alteration of phospholipase C beta3 expression modulates behavioral and cellular responses to mu opioids

Morphine and other micro opioids regulate a number of intracellular signaling pathways, including the one mediated by phospholipase C (PLC). By studying PLC beta3-deficient mice, we have established a strong link between PLC and mu opioid-mediated responses at both the behavioral and cellular levels. Mice lacking PLC beta3, when compared with the wild type, exhibited up to a 10-fold decrease in the ED(50) value for morphine in producing antinociception. The reduced ED(50) value was unlikely a result of changes in opioid receptor number or affinity because no differences were found in whole-brain B(max) and K(d) values for mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors between wild-type and PLC beta3-null mice. We also found that opioid regulation of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels in primary sensory neurons (dorsal root ganglion) was different between the two genotypes. Consistent with the behavioral findings, the specific mu agonist [D-Ala(2),(Me)Phe(4),Gly(ol)(5)]enkephalin (DAMGO) induced a greater whole-cell current reduction in a greater proportion of neurons isolated from the PLC beta3-null mice than from the wild type. In addition, reconstitution of recombinant PLC protein back into PLC beta3-deficient dorsal root ganglion neurons reduced DAMGO responses to those of wild-type neurons. In neurons of both genotypes, activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters markedly reduced DAMGO-mediated Ca(2+) current reduction. These data demonstrate that PLC beta3 constitutes a significant pathway involved in negative modulation of mu opioid responses, perhaps via protein kinase C, and suggests the possibility that differences in opioid sensitivity among individuals could be, in part, because of genetic factors.