Denis RD, Stahlman J, Stamen R, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stanescu-Bellu M, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Staszewski R, Staude A, Stavina P, Steele G, Steinbach P, Steinberg P, Stekl I, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stern S, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockton MC, Stoerig K, Stoicea G, Stonjek S, Strachota P, Stradling AR, Straessner A, Strandberg J, Strandberg S, Strandlie A, Strang M, Strauss E, Strauss M, Strizenec P, Ströhmer R, Strom DM, Strong JA, Stroynowski R, Strube J, Stugu B, Stumer I, Stupak J, Sturm P, Styles NA, Soh DA, Su D, Subramania HS, Succurro A, Sugaya Y, Suhr C, Suk M, Sulin VV, Sultansoy S, Sumida T, Sun X, Sundermann JE, Suruliz K, Susinno G, Sutton MR, Suzuki Y, Suzuki Y, Svatos M, Swedish S, Sykora I, Sykora T, Sánchez J, Ta D, Tackmann K, Taffard A, Tafirout R, Taiblum N, Takahashi Y, Takai H, Takashima R, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Takubo Y, Talby M, Talyshev A, Tamsett MC, Tanaka J, Tanaka R, Tanaka S, Tanaka S, Tanasijczuk AJ, Tani K, Tannoury N, Tapprogge S, Tardif D, Tarem S, Tarrade F, Tartarelli GF, Tas P, Tasevsky M, Tassi E, Tatarkhanov M, Tayalati Y, Taylor C, Taylor FE, Taylor GN, Taylor W, Teinturier M, Teixeira Dias Castanheira M, Teixeira-Dias P, Temming KK, Ten Kate H, Teng PK, Terada S, Terashi K, Terron J, Testa M, Teuscher RJ, Therhaag J, Theveneaux-Pelzer T, Thoma S, Thomas JP, Thompson EN, Thompson PD, Thompson PD, Thompson AS, Thomsen LA, Thomson E, Thomson M, Thun RP, Tian F, Tibbetts MJ, Tic T, Tikhomirov VO, Tikhonov YA, Timoshenko S, Tipton P, Tique Aires Viegas FJ, Tisserant S, Todorov T, Todorova-Nova S, Toggerson B, Tojo J, Tokár S, Tokushuku K, Tollefson K, Tomoto M, Tompkins L, Toms K, Tonoyan A, Topfel C, Topilin ND, Torchiani I, Torrence E, Torres H, Torró Pastor E, Toth J, Touchard F, Tovey DR, Trefzger T, Tremblet L, Tricoli A, Trigger IM, Trincaz-Duvoid S, Tripiana MF, Trischuk W, Trocmé B, Troncon C, Trottier-McDonald M, Trzebinski M, Trzupek A, Tsarouchas C, Tseng JCL, Tsiakiris M, Tsiareshka PV, Tsionou D, Tsipolitis G, Tsiskaridze V, Tskhadadze EG, Tsukerman II, Tsulaia V, Tsung JW, Tsuno S, Tsybychev D, Tua A, Tudorache A, Tudorache V, Tuggle JM, Turala M, Turecek D, Turk Cakir I, Turlay E, Turra R, Tuts PM, Tykhonov A, Tylmad M, Tyndel M, Tzanakos G, Uchida K, Ueda I, Ueno R, Ugland M, Uhlenbrock M, Uhrmacher M, Ukegawa F, Unal G, Undrus A, Unel G, Unno Y, Urbaniec D, Usai G, Uslenghi M, Vacavant L, Vacek V, Vachon B, Vahsen S, Valenta J, Valente P, Valentinetti S, Valero A, Valkar S, Valladolid Gallego E, Vallecorsa S, Valls Ferrer JA, van der Graaf H, van der Kraaij E, Van Der Leeuw R, van der Poel E, van der Ster D, van Eldik N, van Gemmeren P, van Vulpen I, Vanadia M, Vandelli W, Vaniachine A, Vankov P, Vannucci F, Vari R, Varol T, Varouchas D, Vartapetian A, Varvell KE, Vassilakopoulos VI, Vazeille F, Vazquez Schroeder T, Vegni G, Veillet JJ, Veloso F, Veness R, Veneziano S, Ventura A, Ventura D, Venturi M, Venturi N, Vercesi V, Verducci M, Verkerke W, Vermeulen JC, Vest A, Vetterli MC, Vichou I, Vickey T, Vickey Boeriu OE, Viehhauser GHA, Viel S, Villa M, Villaplana Perez M, Vilucchi E, Vincter MG, Vinek E, Vinogradov VB, Virchaux M, Virzi J, Vitells O, Viti M, Vivarelli I, Vives Vaque F, Vlachos S, Vladoiu D, Vlasak M, Vogel A, Vokac P, Volpi G, Volpi M, Volpini G, von der Schmitt H, von Loeben J, von Radziewski H, von Toerne E, Vorobel V, Vorwerk V, Vos M, Voss R, Voss TT, Vossebeld JH, Vranjes N, Vranjes Milosavljevic M, Vrba V, Vreeswijk M, Vu Anh T, Vuillermet R, Vukotic I, Wagner W, Wagner P, Wahlen H, Wahrmund S, Wakabayashi J, Walch S, Walder J, Walker R, Walkowiak W, Wall R, Waller P, Wang C, Wang H, Wang H, Wang J, Wang J, Wang R, Wang SM, Wang T, Warburton A, Ward CP, Warsinsky M, Washbrook A, Wasicki C, Watkins PM, Watson AT, Watson IJ, Watson MF, Watts G, Watts S, Waugh AT, Waugh BM, Weber M, Weber MS, Weber P, Weidberg AR, Weigell P, Weingarten J, Weiser C, Wellenstein H, Wells PS, Wenaus T, Wendland D, Weng Z, Wengler T, Wenig S, Wermes N, Werner M, Werner P, Werth M, Wessels M, Wetter J, Weydert C, Whalen K, Wheeler-Ellis SJ, White A, White MJ, White S, Whitehead SR, Whiteson D, Whittington D, Wicek F, Wicke D, Wickens FJ, Wiedenmann W, Wielers M, Wienemann P, Wiglesworth C, Wiik-Fuchs LAM, Wijeratne PA, Wildauer A, Wildt MA, Wilhelm I, Wilkens HG, Will JZ, Williams E, Williams HH, Willis W, Willocq S, Wilson JA, Wilson MG, Wilson A, Wingerter-Seez I, Winkelmann S, Winklmeier F, Wittgen M, Wollstadt SJ, Wolter MW, Wolters H, Wong WC, Wooden G, Wosiek BK, Wotschack J, Woudstra MJ, Wozniak KW, Wraight K, Wright C, Wright M, Wrona B, Wu SL, Wu X, Wu Y, Wulf E, Wynne BM, Xella S, Xiao M, Xie S, Xu C, Xu D, Yabsley B, Yacoob S, Yamada M, Yamaguchi H, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto K, Yamamoto S, Yamamura T, Yamanaka T, Yamaoka J, Yamazaki T, Yamazaki Y, Yan Z, Yang H, Yang UK, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yanush S, Yao L, Yao Y, Yasu Y, Ybeles Smit GV, Ye J, Ye S, Yilmaz M, Yoosoofmiya R, Yorita K, Yoshida R, Young C, Young CJ, Youssef S, Yu D, Yu J, Yu J, Yuan L, Yurkewicz A, Zabinski B, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zajacova Z, Zanello L, Zaytsev A, Zeitnitz C, Zeman M, Zemla A, Zendler C, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zinonos Z, Zenz S, Zerwas D, Zevi della Porta G, Zhan Z, Zhang D, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao L, Zhao T, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou N, Zhou Y, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu J, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhuravlov V, Zieminska D, Zimin NI, Zimmermann R, Zimmermann S, Zimmermann S, Ziolkowski M, Zitoun R, Živković L, Zmouchko VV, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, zur Nedden M, Zutshi V, Zwalinski L. A search for [Formula: see text] resonances with the ATLAS detector in 2.05 fb-1 of proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text]

A search for top quark pair resonances in final states containing at least one electron or muon has been performed with the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The search uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.05 fb-1, which was recorded in 2011 at a proton-proton centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. No evidence for a resonance is found and limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio to [Formula: see text] for narrow and wide resonances. For narrow Z' bosons, the observed 95 % Bayesian credibility level limits range from 9.3 pb to 0.95 pb for masses in the range of mZ'=500 GeV to mZ'=1300 GeV. The corresponding excluded mass region for a leptophobic topcolour Z' boson (Kaluza-Klein gluon excitation in the Randall-Sundrum model) is mZ'<880 GeV ([Formula: see text]).

Search for supersymmetry in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √[s]=7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the weak production of charginos and neutralinos decaying to a final state with three leptons (electrons or muons) and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis uses 2.06 fb(-1) of √[s]=7 TeV proton-proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with standard model expectations in two signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric and simplified models. For the simplified models, degenerate lightest chargino and next-to-lightest neutralino masses up to 300 GeV are excluded for mass differences from the lightest neutralino up to 300 GeV.

Denis RD, Stahl T, Stahlman J, Stamen R, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Staude A, Stavina P, Stavropoulos G, Steele G, Steinbach P, Steinberg P, Stekl I, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stevenson K, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockmanns T, Stockton MC, Stoerig K, Stoicea G, Stonjek S, Strachota P, Stradling AR, Straessner A, Strandberg J, Strandberg S, Strandlie A, Strang M, Strauss E, Strauss M, Strizenec P, Ströhmer R, Strom DM, Strong JA, Stroynowski R, Strube J, Stugu B, Stumer I, Stupak J, Sturm P, Soh DA, Su D, Subramania HS, Sugaya Y, Sugimoto T, Suhr C, Suita K, Suk M, Sulin VV, Sultansoy S, Sumida T, Sun X, Sundermann JE, Suruliz K, Susinno G, Sutton MR, Suzuki Y, Swedish S, Sykora I, Sykora T, Sánchez J, Ta D, Tackmann K, Taffard A, Tafirout R, Taga A, Taiblum N, Takahashi Y, Takai H, Takashima R, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Talby M, Talyshev A, Tamsett MC, Tanaka J, Tanaka R, Tanaka S, Tanaka S, Tani K, Tannoury N, Tapprogge S, Tardif D, Tarem S, Tarrade F, Tartarelli GF, Tas P, Tasevsky M, Tassi E, Tatarkhanov M, Tayalati Y, Taylor C, Taylor FE, Taylor GN, Taylor W, Teixeira Dias Castanheira M, Teixeira-Dias P, Temming KK, Ten Kate H, Teng PK, Terada S, Terashi K, Terron J, Terwort M, Testa M, Teuscher RJ, Tevlin CM, Therhaag J, Theveneaux-Pelzer T, Thioye M, Thoma S, Thomas JP, Thompson EN, Thompson PD, Thompson PD, Thompson RJ, Thompson AS, Thomson E, Thomson M, Thun RP, Tic T, Tikhomirov VO, Tikhonov YA, Timmermans CJWP, Tipton P, Tique Aires Viegas FJ, Tisserant S, Todorov T, Todorova-Nova S, Toggerson B, Tojo J, Tokár S, Tokunaga K, Tokushuku K, Tollefson K, Tomoto M, Tompkins L, Toms K, Tonazzo A, Tonoyan A, Topfel C, Topilin ND, Torchiani I, Torrence E, Torró Pastor E, Toth J, Touchard F, Tovey DR, Traynor D, Trefzger T, Treis J, Tremblet L, Tricoli A, Trigger IM, Trincaz-Duvoid S, Trinh TN, Tripiana MF, Trischuk W, Trivedi A, Trocmé B, Troncon C, Trottier-McDonald M, Trzupek A, Tsarouchas C, Tseng JCL, Tsiakiris M, Tsiareshka PV, Tsionou D, Tsipolitis G, Tsiskaridze V, Tskhadadze EG, Tsukerman II, Tsulaia V, Tsung JW, Tsuno S, Tsybychev D, Tua A, Tuggle JM, Turala M, Turecek D, Turk Cakir I, Turlay E, Turra R, Tuts PM, Twomey MS, Tykhonov A, Tylmad M, Tyndel M, Typaldos D, Tyrvainen H, Tzanakos G, Uchida K, Ueda I, Ueno R, Ugland M, Uhlenbrock M, Uhrmacher M, Ukegawa F, Unal G, Undrus A, Unel G, Unno Y, Urbaniec D, Urkovsky E, Urrejola P, Usai G, Uslenghi M, Vacavant L, Vacek V, Vachon B, Vahsen S, Valderanis C, Valenta J, Valente P, Valentinetti S, Valkar S, Valladolid Gallego E, Vallecorsa S, Valls Ferrer JA, van der Graaf H, van der Kraaij E, Van Der Leeuw R, van der Poel E, van der Ster D, Van Eijk B, van Eldik N, van Gemmeren P, van Vulpen I, Vandelli W, Vaniachine A, Vankov P, Vannucci F, Vari R, Varnes EW, Varouchas D, Vartapetian A, Varvell KE, Vassilakopoulos VI, Vazeille F, Vegni G, Veillet JJ, Veloso F, Veness R, Veneziano S, Ventura A, Ventura D, Venturi M, Venturi N, Vercesi V, Verducci M, Verkerke W, Vermeulen JC, Vest A, Vetterli MC, Vichou I, Vickey T, Viehhauser GHA, Viel S, Villa M, Villani EG, Villaplana Perez M, Vilucchi E, Vincter MG, Vinek E, Vinogradov VB, Virchaux M, Viret S, Virzi J, Vitale A, Vitells O, Viti M, Vivarelli I, Vives Vaque F, Vlachos S, Vlasak M, Vlasov N, Vogel A, Vokac P, Volpi G, Volpi M, Volpini G, von der Schmitt H, von Loeben J, von Radziewski H, von Toerne E, Vorobel V, Vorwerk V, Vos M, Voss R, Voss TT, Vossebeld JH, Vovenko AS, Vranjes N, Vranjes Milosavljevic M, Vrba V, Vreeswijk M, Vu Anh T, Vuillermet R, Vukotic I, Wagner W, Wagner P, Wahlen H, Wakabayashi J, Walbersloh J, Walch S, Walder J, Walker R, Walkowiak W, Wall R, Waller P, Wang C, Wang H, Wang J, Wang J, Wang R, Wang SM, Warburton A, Ward CP, Warsinsky M, Wastie R, Watkins PM, Watson AT, Watson MF, Watts G, Watts S, Waugh AT, Waugh BM, Weber J, Weber M, Weber MS, Weber P, Weidberg AR, Weigell P, Weingarten J, Weiser C, Wellenstein H, Wells PS, Wen M, Wenaus T, Wendler S, Weng Z, Wengler T, Wenig S, Wermes N, Werner M, Werner P, Werth M, Werthenbach U, Wessels M, Whalen K, Wheeler-Ellis SJ, White A, White MJ, White S, Whitehead SR, Whiteson D, Whittington D, Wicek F, Wicke D, Wickens FJ, Wiedenmann W, Wielers M, Wienemann P, Wiik-Fuchs LAM, Wijeratne PA, Wildauer A, Wildt MA, Wilhelm I, Wilkens HG, Will JZ, Williams E, Williams HH, Willis W, Willocq S, Wilson JA, Wilson MG, Wilson A, Wingerter-Seez I, Winkelmann S, Winklmeier F, Wittgen M, Wolter MW, Wolters H, Wooden G, Wosiek BK, Wotschack J, Woudstra MJ, Wraight K, Wright C, Wright D, Wrona B, Wu SL, Wu X, Wu Y, Wulf E, Wynne BM, Xaplanteris L, Xella S, Xie S, Xu C, Xu D, Yabsley B, Yamada M, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto K, Yamamoto S, Yamamura T, Yamaoka J, Yamazaki T, Yamazaki Y, Yan Z, Yang H, Yang UK, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yanush S, Yao WM, Yao Y, Yasu Y, Ybeles Smit GV, Ye J, Ye S, Yilmaz M, Yoosoofmiya R, Yorita K, Yoshida R, Young C, Youssef S, Yu D, Yu J, Yu J, Yuan L, Yurkewicz A, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zajacova Z, Zalite YK, Zanello L, Zarzhitsky P, Zaytsev A, Zeitnitz C, Zeller M, Zema PF, Zemla A, Zendler C, Zenin AV, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zinonos Z, Zenz S, Zerwas D, Zevi della Porta G, Zhan Z, Zhang D, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao L, Zhao T, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou N, Zhou Y, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhuravlov V, Zieminska D, Zilka B, Zimmermann R, Zimmermann S, Zimmermann S, Ziolkowski M, Zitoun R, Živković L, Zmouchko VV, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, Zolnierowski Y, Zsenei A, zur Nedden M, Zutshi V, Zwalinski L. Search for lepton flavour violation in the eμ continuum with the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the LHC

This paper presents a search for the t-channel exchange of an R-parity violating scalar top quark ([Formula: see text]) in the e±μ∓ continuum using 2.1 fb-1 of data collected by the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Data are found to be consistent with the expectation from the Standard Model backgrounds. Limits on R-parity-violating couplings at 95 % C.L. are calculated as a function of the scalar top mass ([Formula: see text]). The upper limits on the production cross section for pp→eμX, through the t-channel exchange of a scalar top quark, ranges from 170 fb for [Formula: see text] to 30 fb for [Formula: see text].

Targeted therapy via oral administration of attenuated Salmonella expression plasmid-vectored Stat3-shRNA cures orthotopically transplanted mouse HCC

The development of RNA interference-based cancer gene therapies has been delayed due to the lack of effective tumor-targeting delivery systems. Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) has a natural tropism for solid tumors. We report here the use of attenuated S. Typhimurium as a vector to deliver shRNA directly into tumor cells. Constitutively activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is a key transcription factor involved in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and metastasis. In this study, attenuated S. Typhimurium was capable of delivering shRNA-expressing vectors to the targeted cancer cells and inducing RNA interference in vivo. More importantly, a single oral dose of attenuated S. Typhimurium carrying shRNA-expressing vectors targeting Stat3 induced remarkably delayed and reduced HCC (in 70% of mice). Cancer in these cured mice did not recur over 2 years following treatment. These data demonstrated that RNA interference combined with Salmonella as a delivery system may offer a novel clinical approach for cancer gene therapy.

Systematic review: faecal transplantation for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated disease

BACKGROUND

Management of recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), particularly in elderly patients, remains clinically challenging. Faecal transplantation (FT) may restore normal microbiota and break the cycle of recurrent CDAD.

AIM

To critically appraise the clinical research evidence on the safety and effectiveness of FT compared with standard care in the treatment of patients with CDAD.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted by a research librarian to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2011. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews and Web of Science were searched using the following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords, alone or in combination: Clostridium infections/Clostridium difficile/pseudomembranous/colitis/faeces/rectal/colon flora/gastrointestinal/nasogastric tube/enema/donor/transplant/infusion/bacteriotherapy/human probiotic infusion. Methodological quality of the included case series studies was assessed in terms of patient selection criteria, consecutive recruitment, prospective data collection, reporting of lost to follow-up, and follow-up rates.

RESULTS

No controlled studies were found. Based on the weak evidence from seven full-text case series studies of 124 patients with recurrent/refractory CDAD, FT appears to be a safe and effective procedure. In most cases (83%) symptoms improved immediately after the first FT procedure, and some patients stayed diarrhoea free for several months or years.

CONCLUSIONS

Although these results appear to be promising, the treatment effects of faecal transplantation cannot be determined definitively in the absence of a control group. Results from randomised controlled trials that compare faecal transplantation to oral vancomycin without or with a taper regimen will help to better define the role of faecal transplantation in the management of recurrent CDAD.

Measurement of the ZZ production cross section and limits on anomalous neutral triple gauge couplings in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of the ZZ production cross section in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.02 fb(-1) recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC is presented. Twelve events containing two Z boson candidates decaying to electrons and/or muons are observed, with an expected background of 0.3 ± 0.3(stat)(-0.3)(+0.4)(syst) events. The cross section measured in a phase-space region with good detector acceptance and for dilepton masses within the range 66 to 116 GeV is σ(ZZ → ℓ+ ℓ- ℓ+ ℓ-)(fid) = 19.4(-5.2)(+6.3)(stat)(-0.7)(+0.9)(syst) ± 0.7(lumi) fb. The resulting total cross section for on-shell ZZ production, σ(ZZ)(tot) = 8.5(-2.3)(+2.7)(stat)(-0.3)(+0.4)(syst) ± 0.3(lumi) pb, is consistent with the standard model expectation of 6.5(-0.2)(+0.3) pb calculated at the next-to-leading order in QCD. Limits on anomalous neutral triple gauge boson couplings are derived.

Cryopreservation of adult bovine testicular tissue for spermatogonia enrichment

To develop a procedure for cryopreservation of adult bovine testis tissue, the effects of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), and their concentrations (v/v), as well as different thawing temperatures, on the cell viability of bovine testis tissue after freezing/thawing were examined. The highest testicular cell viabilities came from the media containing DMSO (85.3 ± 1.2 percent), PG (82 ± 1.0 percent) and EG (83.4 ± 1.0 percent) at 10 percent concentration respectively. Using 10 percent DMSO gave significantly higher spermatogonia percentage (61.1 ± 1.2 percent, P < 0.001) than processing with 10 percent PG (54.3 ± 0.6 percent) or 10 percent EG (55 ± 1.8 percent) after differential plating. Thawing in water bath of 37 or 97-100 degree C also provided significantly higher viabilities (85.1 ± 1.0, 85 ± 1.0 percent, P < 0.01, respectively) and spermatogonia percentages (56.6 ± 2.0, 56.6 ± 2.6 percent, P < 0.01, respectively) than that thawing at 4C (23.4 ± 0.8 percent for total viability, 8.97 ± 1.0 percent for spermatogonia percentage). Collectively, 10 percent DMSO and thawing in 37-100 degree C water baths were appropriate for the cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissue and subsequent spermatogonia enrichment.

Morphological and physiological characteristics of transgenic cherry tomato mutant with HBsAg gene

HBsAg gene was previously introduced into cherry tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum var. cerasiforme) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. To investigate the side effect of HBsAg gene in cherry tomato, we analyzed morphological and physiological characteristics of the transgenic mutant N244. The process was performed under field conditions. The results suggested that the mutant N244 exhibited morphological, cytological and physiological variation. First of all, compared with the wild plants NK, N244 had fleshy and dark green leaves, the fewer notches of leaf edge, more adventitious roots and barren seeds. Moreover, the chromosome of N244 were found to be triploid (n = 36) by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, N244 has obvious physiological alterations, as compared to NK. It was speculated that transformation of the genes probably led to ploidy variation, and further caused phenotype and physiological changes of plants. Our study will reveal side effects of the mutants, and promote cultivation of transgenic plants in the field.

Relative effectiveness of clinic and home blood pressure monitoring compared with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in diagnosis of hypertension: systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relative accuracy of clinic measurements and home blood pressure monitoring compared with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as a reference standard for the diagnosis of hypertension.

DESIGN

Systematic review with meta-analysis with hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic models. Methodological quality was appraised, including evidence of validation of blood pressure measurement equipment.

DATA SOURCES

Medline (from 1966), Embase (from 1980), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE, Medion, ARIF, and TRIP up to May 2010. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Eligible studies examined diagnosis of hypertension in adults of all ages using home and/or clinic blood pressure measurement compared with those made using ambulatory monitoring that clearly defined thresholds to diagnose hypertension.

RESULTS

The 20 eligible studies used various thresholds for the diagnosis of hypertension, and only seven studies (clinic) and three studies (home) could be directly compared with ambulatory monitoring. Compared with ambulatory monitoring thresholds of 135/85 mm Hg, clinic measurements over 140/90 mm Hg had mean sensitivity and specificity of 74.6% (95% confidence interval 60.7% to 84.8%) and 74.6% (47.9% to 90.4%), respectively, whereas home measurements over 135/85 mm Hg had mean sensitivity and specificity of 85.7% (78.0% to 91.0%) and 62.4% (48.0% to 75.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Neither clinic nor home measurement had sufficient sensitivity or specificity to be recommended as a single diagnostic test. If ambulatory monitoring is taken as the reference standard, then treatment decisions based on clinic or home blood pressure alone might result in substantial overdiagnosis. Ambulatory monitoring before the start of lifelong drug treatment might lead to more appropriate targeting of treatment, particularly around the diagnostic threshold.

PEA3/ETV4-related transcription factors coupled with active ERK signalling are associated with poor prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma

Background:

Transcription factors often play important roles in tumourigenesis. Members of the PEA3 subfamily of ETS-domain transcription factors fulfil such a role and have been associated with tumour metastasis in several different cancers. Moreover, the activity of the PEA3 subfamily transcription factors is potentiated by Ras-ERK pathway signalling, which is itself often deregulated in tumour cells.

Methods:

Immunohistochemical patterns of PEA3 expression and active ERK signalling were analysed and mRNA expression levels of PEA3, ER81, MMP-1 and MMP-7 were determined in gastric adenocarcinoma samples.

Results:

Here, we have studied the expression of the PEA3 subfamily members PEA3/ETV4 and ER81/ETV1 in gastric adenocarcinomas. PEA3 is upregulated at the protein level in gastric adenocarcinomas and both PEA3/ETV4 and ER81/ETV1 are upregulated at the mRNA level in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues. This increased expression correlates with the expression of a target gene associated with metastasis, MMP-1. Enhanced ERK signalling is also more prevalent in late-stage gastric adenocarcinomas, and the co-association of ERK signalling and PEA3 expression also occurs in late-stage gastric adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, the co-association of ERK signalling and PEA3 expression correlates with decreased survival rates.

Conclusions:

This study shows that members of the PEA3 subfamily of transcription factors are upregulated in gastric adenocarcinomas and that the simultaneous upregulation of PEA3 expression and ERK pathway signalling is indicative of late-stage disease and a poor survival prognosis.

Expression and hormonal regulation of E-cadherin in canine uterus during early pregnancy

E-cadherin, a Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecule, is necessary for endometrial receptivity to blastocyst implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of E-cadherin in canine uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation under different conditions by in situ hybridization. E-cadherin mRNA expression was at a low level in the glandular epithelium on days 6, 12 and 17 of pregnancy. On days 20 and 23 of pregnancy, E-cadherin mRNA was highly expressed in the glandular epithelium surrounding the embryo, but not in the luminal epithelium and declined in villi and placenta on day 28 of pregnancy. During oestrous cycle, a moderate level of E-cadherin mRNA expression was found in the luminal and glandular epithelium of canine uteri at oestrus stage. The same expression was also found at anoestrus stage. Progesterone slightly induced the expression of E-cadherin mRNA in the luminal and glandular epithelium of ovariectomized canine uterus. These results suggest that E-cadherin expression is closely related to canine implantation and can be up-regulated by progesterone.

Determination of material emission signatures by PTR-MS and their correlations with odor assessments by human subjects

The objectives of this study were to determine volatile organic compound (VOC) emission signatures of nine typical building materials by using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and to explore the correlation between the PTR-MS measurements and the measurements of acceptability by human subjects. VOC emissions from each material were measured in a 50-l small-scale chamber. Chamber air was sampled by PTR-MS to determine emission signatures. Sorbent tube sampling and TD-GC/MS analysis were also performed to identify the major VOCs emitted and to compare the resulting data with the PTR-MS emission signatures. The data on the acceptability of air quality assessed by human subjects were obtained from a previous experimental study in which the emissions from the same batch of materials were determined under the same area-specific ventilation rates as in the case of the measurements with PTR-MS. Results show that PTR-MS can be an effective tool for establishing VOC emission signatures of material types and that there were reasonable correlations between the PTR-MS measurements and the acceptability of air quality for the nine materials tested when the sum of selected major individual VOC odor indices was used to represent the emission level measured by PTR-MS.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The study shows that unique emission patterns may exist for different types of building materials. These patterns, or signatures, can be established by using PTR-MS, an online monitoring device. The sum of selected major individual VOC odor indices determined by PTR-MS correlates well with the acceptability of air quality assessed by human subjects, and hence provides a feasible approach to assessing perceived indoor air quality. This online assessment will open a new gate in understanding the role of VOC emissions from building materials on perceived air quality, forming a good foundation to develop real-time or near real-time methods for standard material emission testing and labeling, quality control of emissions from materials, and assessing the acceptability of air quality in buildings.

Novel sulfated glucomannan-barium-alginate microcapsules in islet transplantation: significantly decreased the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and improved the activity of islet in rats

The sulfated glucomannan can be used to filter the heparin-binding properties of cytokines. In this study, novel sulfated glucomannan-barium-alginate (SGA) microcapsules were prepared to encapsulate islets with barium-alginate (ABa) and calcium alginate-poly-l-lysine (APA) microcapsules as controls. SD rat islets were purified as donor cells to Lewis rats that had been treated with streptozotocin. Intraperitoneal transplantation was performed with about 3000 islet equivalent (IEQ) rat. At week three after transplantation, the concentrations of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL)-1 beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in intraperitoneal fluid were determined using ELISA. At week 8, the islet cell mass in the abdominal microcapsules was excised to test insulin release. The EB-FDA fluorescence staining method was used to observe the functional activity of the islet cells. Compared with ABa and APA microcapsules, SGA microcapsules showed significantly decreased MCP-1 secretion by beta-cells. Also, the concentrations of cytokines IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were decreased significantly. The activity of the transplanted islets was significantly improved in SGA microcapsules, which shielded against cytokines better than ABa or APA microcapsules and may serve as novel method.

Characterization and expression profile analysis of a new cDNA encoding taxadiene synthase from Taxus media

A full-length cDNA encoding taxadiene synthase (designated as TmTXS), which catalyzes the first committed step in the Taxol biosynthetic pathway, was isolated from young leaves of Taxus media by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of TmTXS had a 2586 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 862 amino acid residues. The deduced protein had isoelectric point (pI) of 5.32 and a calculated molecular weight of about 98 kDa, similar to previously cloned diterpene cyclases from other Taxus species such as T. brevifolia and T. chinenisis. Sequence comparison analysis showed that TmTXS had high similarity with other members of terpene synthase family of plant origin. Tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that TmTXS expressed strongly in leaves, weak in stems and no expression could be detected in fruits. This is the first report on the mRNA expression profile of genes encoding key enzymes involved in Taxol biosynthetic pathway in different tissues of Taxus plants. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that TmTXS had closest relationship with taxadiene synthase from T. baccata followed by those from T. chinenisis and T. brevifolia. Expression profiles revealed by RT-PCR under different chemical elicitor treatments such as methyl jasmonate (MJ), silver nitrate (SN) and ammonium ceric sulphate (ACS) were also compared for the first time, and the results revealed that expression of TmTXS was all induced by the tested three treatments and the induction effect by MJ was the strongest, implying that TmTXS was high elicitor responsive.

Receptor crosstalk: reprogramming B cell receptor signalling to an alternate pathway results in expression and secretion of the autoimmunity-associated cytokine, osteopontin

Receptor crosstalk: reprogramming B cell receptor signalling to an alternate pathway results in expression and secretion of the autoimmunity-associated cytokine, osteopontin (Review). J Intern Med 2009; 265: 632-643.Intracellular signalling emanating from the B-cell antigen receptor is considered to follow a discrete course that requires participation by a set of mediators, grouped together as the signalosome, in order for downstream events to occur. Recent work indicates that this paradigm is true only for naïve B cells. Following engagement of the IL-4 receptor, a new, alternate pathway for B-cell receptor (BCR)-triggered intracellular signalling is established that bypasses the need for signalosome elements and operates in parallel with the classical, signalosome-dependent pathway. Reliance on Lyn and sensitivity to rottlerin by the former, but not the latter, distinguishes these two pathways. The advent of alternate pathway signalling leads to production and secretion by B cells of osteopontin (Opn). As Opn is a polyclonal B-cell activator that is strongly associated with a number of autoimmune diseases including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, this novel finding is likely to be clinically relevant. Our results highlight the potential role of B-cell-derived Opn in immunity and autoimmunity and suggest that stress-related IL-4 expression might act to strengthen immunoglobulin secretion at the risk of autoantibody formation. Further, these results illustrate receptor crosstalk in the form of reprogramming, whereby engagement of one receptor (IL-4R) produces an effect that persists after the original ligand (IL-4) is removed and results in alteration of the pathway, and outcome, of signalling via a second receptor (BCR) following its activation.

Quantitative detection of cytokeratin 20 mRNA in urine samples as diagnostic tools for bladder cancer by real-time PCR

AIM

To determine and compare cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA expression in urine of patients with transitional cell carcinomas of bladder (TCCB), urological benign diseases, and healthy volunteers.

METHODS

Taqman probe was designed according to the sequence of CK20 cloned gene. The quantitative PCR reaction system was optimized and evaluated. The CK20 mRNA level was screened by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 95 urine samples and analyzed according to the following parameters: urinary cytology, nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) expression, tumor stage and grade.

RESULTS

For 60 TCCB patients urinary cytology was positive in 28 (46.7%), control group had no false-positive results (specificity 100%). CK20 expression was positive in RT-PCR of 51 cases (85%) of TCCB, but control group was positive in 2 cases (specificity 94.3%) with a cutoff value of crossover point (CT) = 30. Two methods have significant variation in sensitivity (p < 0.001), NMP22 expression was positive in 47 cases (78.3%), but control group was positive in 9 cases (specificity 85%). In the simultaneous evaluation of CK20 and NMP22 mRNA expression, there were 54 positive cases (90%). CK20 mRNA values in TCCB group (mean 27712.57 copies/microl) were significantly higher than in non-cancer disease urological group (mean 74.45 copies/microl) and control group (mean 8.47 copies/microl) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). CK20 mRNA values increased gradually with higher tumor grade and stage: G1 differs significantly from G2 (p = 0.016); T(is) /T(a) differs significantly from T(1-2) (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that CK20 mRNA expression could be regarded as a potential marker for TCCB. We demonstrated correlation between CK20 expression and the clinicopathologic features of TCCB (tumor stage and grade); simultaneous use of CK20 and NMP22 markers will elevate the sensitivity of the method. CK20 RT-PCR is a sensitive, quantitative, rapid and specific method to detect free cancer cells in the urine, and could be recommended for be wide application in the diagnostics of TCCB and evaluation of therapeutic effect.

Atomistic simulation of voids effect on nanoindentation

In this paper, spherical voids effect on the first dislocation emission of single-crystal Cu in nanoindentation is investigated by means of the atomistic simulation. The results show that there are two opposite effects on dislocation emission resulting from the stable voids in matrix. The existence of voids can lower or heighten the load needed to nucleate the first dislocation. The relative distance between the void and the indenter, and the void size play an important role in the yield load of the first dislocation emission in nanoindentation.

Reductions in tumor RNA integrity associated with clinical response to epirubicin/docetaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Abstract #6068

Background: Optimal doses and dosing intervals for neoadjuvant anthracycline/taxane chemotherapy are poorly studied. Moreover, biomarkers for measuring response to such combination regimens are unknown. This study investigated these issues in sequential phase I/II cohorts of women with locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer treated with epirubicin and docetaxel with pegfilgrastim support at 3- or 2-weekly intervals in association with the NCIC-CTG MA.22 clinical trial.&#x2028; Methods: Accrual has been completed for the 3-weekly regimen (maximum tolerated dose: epirubicin 105 mg/m2, taxotere 75 mg/m2), and continues for the phase II portion of the 2-weekly regimen. Six core biopsies were obtained from 50 patients pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine baseline levels of ER, PR, HER2 and Topo II expressed as % positive stain. Tumour RNA integrity (RIN) and tumor extent were measured pre-, mid- and post-treatment by capillary electrophoresis and light microscopy after haematoxylin/eosin staining, respectively. Associations between maximum and average RIN at the three time points and tumour extent, clinical response, pathologic complete response, or baseline levels of ER, PR, HER2 and Topo II were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients after data transformation to improve symmetry and stabilize variances. The association between both RIN and tumour extent, and baseline drug dose was assessed using a 1-way ANOVA.&#x2028; Results: Low mid-treatment maximum RIN was associated with high drug dose level (p=0.05) and eventual pathologic complete response (p=0.01). Post-treatment, low maximum and average RIN were found to be associated with low tumor extent (p=0.004 and p=0.01, respectively). As well, low average RIN was significantly associated with clinical complete response post-treatment (p=0.01). As expected, post-treatment low tumor extent was significantly associated with pathologic complete response (p=0.01). High pre-treatment Topo II levels were also significantly associated with high RIN (p = 0.03). No association was observed between RIN and HER2, ER or PR.&#x2028; Discussion: The association of RIN with tumour extent, pathologic complete response, clinical response, a known risk factor (Topo II), and drug dose suggests that the RIN may represent an important new biomarker for measuring response to anthracycline/taxane combinations (and possible other chemotherapy regimens) in breast cancer patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6068.

A new endophytic taxane-production fungus from Taxus chinensis

More than 50 kinds of endophytic fungi associated with Taxus chinensis, were isolated and examined as potential source of the imposing anticancer drug taxol. Of these, 4 isolates show ability to produce taxane when measured with the competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay method. The most promising clone, DA10, identified as Mucor rouxianus sp., is the first rouxianus reported as taxol-production fungus. The presence of taxol and its important precursors, such as 10-diacetyl baccatinIII (10-DAB) and baccatinIII, in the culture of this fungus was confirmed by reactivity with taxane-specific monoclonal antibody, comparative chromatographic and mass spectrometric behavior, cytotoxity to liver carcinoma 7402, and molecular cloning of kernel fragment of taxadiene synthase gene.

Expression and hormonal regulation of IL-11Ralpha in canine uterus during early pregnancy

Embryo implantation is critical for the successful establishment of pregnancy. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is essential for adequate decidualization in the mouse and human via binding to the specific IL-11 receptor alpha (IL-11Ralpha). But the expression and regulation of IL-11 and IL-11Ralpha in the canine endometrium remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of IL-11Ralpha in canine uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation under different conditions by in situ hybridization. Interleukin-11Ralpha mRNA was mainly localized in glandular epithelium in canine uterus. There was a low level of IL-11Ralpha expression in the glandular epithelium on days 6, 12 and 17 of pregnancy. On day 20 of pregnancy when embryo implanted, IL-11Ralpha mRNA was highly expressed in the glandular epithelium surrounding the embryo, but not in the luminal epithelium and stroma. On day 23 of pregnancy, the expression of IL-11Ralpha mRNA maintained a constant level compared with the expression of day 20 and increased on day 28 of pregnancy. During the oestrous cycle, a high level of IL-11Ralpha mRNA expression was seen in the oestrous uterus. Progesterone slightly induced the expression of IL-11Ralpha mRNA in the ovariectomized canine uterus. These results suggest that IL-11Ralpha expression is closely related to canine implantation and up-regulated by progesterone.

Needle track seeding following biopsy of liver lesions in the diagnosis of hepatocellular cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Needle biopsy of a suspicious liver lesion could guide management in the setting of equivocal imaging and serology, although it is not recommended generally because there is the possibility of tumour dissemination outside the liver. The incidence of needle track seeding following biopsy of a suspicious liver lesion is ill-defined, however.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published before March 2007 was performed. Studies that reported on needle tract seeding following biopsy of suspicious liver lesions were identified. Lesions suspected of being hepatocelleular cancer (HCC) were considered. Data on the type of needle biopsy, diagnosis, incidence of needle track seeding duration to seeding, follow-up and impact on outcome were tabulated.

RESULTS

Eight studies identified by systematic review on biopsy of HCC were included in a meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of a patient with seeding per 100 patients with HCC was 0.027 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.018 to 0.040). There was no difference whether a fixed or random effects model was used. Q was 4.802 with 7 degrees of freedom, p = 0.684; thus the observed heterogeneity was compatible with variation by chance alone. The pooled estimate of a patient with seeding per 100 patients per year was 0.009 (95% CI 0.006 to 0.013), p = 0.686.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review we have shown that the incidence of needle tract tumour seeding following biopsy of a HCC is 2.7% overall, or 0.9% per year.

Customizing kernel functions for SVM-based hyperspectral image classification

Previous research applying kernel methods such as support vector machines (SVMs) to hyperspectral image classification has achieved performance competitive with the best available algorithms. However, few efforts have been made to extend SVMs to cover the specific requirements of hyperspectral image classification, for example, by building tailor-made kernels. Observation of real-life spectral imagery from the AVIRIS hyperspectral sensor shows that the useful information for classification is not equally distributed across bands, which provides potential to enhance the SVM's performance through exploring different kernel functions. Spectrally weighted kernels are, therefore, proposed, and a set of particular weights is chosen by either optimizing an estimate of generalization error or evaluating each band's utility level. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments are carried out on the publicly available 92AV3C dataset collected from the 220-dimensional AVIRIS hyperspectral sensor. Results indicate that the method is generally effective in improving performance: spectral weighting based on learning weights by gradient descent is found to be slightly better than an alternative method based on estimating "relevance" between band information and ground truth.

Bioactive natural products from endophytes: a review

Endophytes, microorganisms that reside in the internal tissues of living plants without causing any immediate overt negative effects, have been found in every plant species examined to date and recognized as potential sources of novel natural products for exploitation in medicine, agriculture, and industry with more and more bioactive natural products isolated from the microorganisms. In this review, we focus mainly on bioactive natural products from endophytic microorganisms by their different functional roles. The prospect and facing problems of isolating natural products from endophytes are also discussed.